Mohun Bagan SG rout CISF 6-0 to top Group A in Durand Cup

Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated CISF Protectors 6-0 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on Monday to top Group A of the 135th Durand Cup and advance to the quarterfinals. Sahal Abdul Samad scored a first-half hat-trick in the victory.

Mohun Bagan completed a perfect group-stage campaign with three wins from three matches, finishing Group A with nine points. The Mariners had beaten South United FC 8-0 in their previous group game, and East Bengal FC finished second in the section with six points.

Liston Colaco set up Sahal Abdul Samad for the opener in the 17th minute. Sahal doubled the lead two minutes later from a pass by Dezan Drazic, and Manvir Singh extended the advantage to 3-0 in the 24th minute.

Sahal completed his hat-trick in the 37th minute with a solo effort to make it 4-0 at half-time. The first-half trio of goals by Sahal came as Mohun Bagan established control of the match.

Substitute Jamie Maclaren added the fifth goal in the 68th minute, and Tekcham Abhishek Singh completed the 6-0 scoreline five minutes later. The margin ensured Mohun Bagan finished the group stage without dropping points.

In Group C at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Sporting Club Delhi beat Indian Air Force 7-1 to top their group and confirm a last-eight berth with three successive wins. Sporting Club Delhi’s goals came from Rodrigo Da Silva (11), Juan Sebastian Pena (38, 65), Duvan Viafara (54), Lalrinliana Hnamte (63), Clarence Savio (79) and Richard Ndayishimiye (90+4); Samuel Vanlalpeka scored for Indian Air Force in the 49th minute.

Both Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Sporting Club Delhi have secured places in the Durand Cup quarterfinals as group winners.