Durand Cup 2022: Mohammedan Sporting SC stage comeback win over champions FC Goa in opener

Bengaluru, August 16: Mohammedan Sporting SC exacted a sweet revenge on FC Goa by beating the champions 3-1 in the Durand Cup 2022 tournament opener at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata on Tuesday (August 16) evening.

In the Durand Cup 2021 final played at the same venue, Edu Bedia's 105th-minute strike had helped the Men in Orange overcome the challenge posed by Kolkata-based outfit to lay their hands on the trophy for the first time.

But on Tuesday, it was the Kolkata giants' time to turn the table as they staged a stunning come-from-behind win in the opening game of the 131st edition of the oldest tournament in Indian football.

Three first team players -- Hrithik Tiwari, Nemil and Phrangki Buam -- made the cut for FC Goa head coach Deggie Cardozo's starting XI as new signing Ayush Chhetri was named among the substitutes.

The young Gaurs made a positive start as they carved out their first opportunity through Muhammed Nemil, whose shot from distance in the 8th minute flew just over the crossbar.

This served as a wake-up-call of sorts for Mohammedan, who then started resorting to heavy pressing in a bid to frustrate their opponents.

It almost bore fruit in the 30th minute, when the Kolkata-based club were able to win the ball back and orchestrate a counter-attack. The ball eventually fell to Vanlalzuidika on the right flank, whose perfectly-timed cross found Pritam Singh in the box. The latter, however, fired wide much to Goa's relief.

First blood

However, it was the Boys in Orange who drew first blood just four minutes later, as Nemil found himself in the thick of things once again.

The young midfielder got the ball outside the box and looked up to see Mohammedan keeper Shankar Roy's positioning before curling it into the top-left corner, leaving the keeper and the rest of his teammates speechless.

Equaliser

The Black Panthers had to wait until the second half to find an equaliser when in the 49th minute 29-year-old Manipur forward Pritam Singh drew parity off a delightful cross from winger Sheikh Faiaz.

Egged on by a boisterous home support, Mohammedan brought in midfielder Faslu Rahman in the 78th minute of the game, and the 27-year-old gave headed the ball into the net and gave the Kolkata outfit the lead just six minutes later.

Comfort goal

Rahman was also instrumental in the third and final goal as he assisted skipper Marcus Joseph in the third minute of stoppage time as he sealed the deal and got the comfort goal.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the tournament, which is Asia's oldest and the third largest in the world.

CM inaugurates

Next up in Durand Cup 2022 for the Boys in Orange is a clash against the Indian Air Force at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Friday (August 19).

Meanwhile, Mohammedan locks horns with Jamshedpur FC two days later at the same venue.