Manvir Singh hat-trick as Mohun Bagan rout South United 8-0 in Durand Cup

Manvir Singh scored a hat-trick as Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated South United FC 8-0 in their Group A match of the 135th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday. The win was Mohun Bagan’s second straight in the competition.

Manvir led the scorers, Suhail Ahmad Bhat netted twice, Alberto Rodríguez and Rahul Bheke also found the net, and South United captain Noel S put through an own goal. Both teams entered the fixture having won their openers; Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilimperis kept his preferred 4-4-2 and handed starts to new signings Dejan Dražić and Rahul Bheke. South United head coach Kaja Mohideen Bhadussa set his side up in a 3-4-3 with Makakmayum Daniyal spearheading the attack.

Mohun Bagan began on the front foot as Liston Colaco produced an early powerful effort and Anirudh Thapa tested goalkeeper Sunil Singh before the visitors fell behind. The opening goal came in the fourth minute after Sahal Abdul Samad played a no-look reverse pass that split the defence; Manvir controlled with his left foot and finished with his right.

Six minutes later Thapa’s corner invited a header from Alberto Rodríguez that doubled the lead, and the home side extended their advantage in the 19th minute when Dejan Dražić combined with Thapa and set up Rahul Bheke for a towering header. Three minutes after that Sahal’s driving run created space for a cut-back that Manvir converted for his second.

Sahal struck the post twice in quick succession, in the 32nd and 35th minutes, and Sunil Singh produced saves to keep South United in the contest on several occasions. Makakmayum Daniyal forced a diving save from Vishal Kaith in the 37th minute, but Mohun Bagan went into the interval leading 4-0 and had restricted South United to just one shot.

The visitors showed more structure after the break with Mustafa Shaikh and Satminlun Khongsai providing neat midfield work, but Mohun Bagan’s pressure continued. Manvir nearly completed his treble earlier in the second half before Sunil Singh denied him, and on the hour mark Thapa’s corner was met by Manvir’s diving header to complete his hat-trick. The backline was marshalled by captain Subhasish Bose alongside Abhimeitei and Alberto Rodríguez.

Mohun Bagan’s sixth came in the 69th minute when a Dražić cross, played after a release from Sahal, deflected off Noel S and into his own net despite Sunil Singh’s attempt to keep it out. Substitute Suhail Ahmad Bhat nearly scored in the 88th minute and then finished from a Sahal pass two minutes later after rounding the goalkeeper to make it seven. Deep into stoppage time Sahal combined with substitute Sayan Banerjee, who cut the ball back for Suhail to rifle into the roof of the net and complete the 8-0 win.

Mohun Bagan sit top of Group A with six points from two matches while South United are third with three points from two matches.