Kolkata: A new-look Mohun Bagan beat defending champions Aizawl FC 2-0 to finally arrest their four-match winless streak in the I-League football tournament, here on Sunday.
The win, however, did not come easy for a wasteful Bagan, who got a dramatic 53rd-minute lead with Masih Saighani’s own goal while Aser Dipanda Dicka (75th) sealed the issue as the Mariners got off to a winning start under new coach Shankarlal Chakraborty.
The former champions’ last win came about a month ago on December 10, a 5-0 rout of Churchill Brothers but since then their campaign hit a roadblock with three successive draws and a loss.
The win pushed Mohun Bagan to fourth position with 13 points from eight matches, while Aizawl remained on 10 from six games.
Having promoted to chief coach after Sanjoy Sen stepped down following their slump, Chakraborty rung in six changes including their new recruit Aussie midfielder Camron Watson and a fit-again Arijit Bagui.
Watson and Raynier Fernandes did a fine job at the centre of the pitch, while Bagui and Nikhil Kadam made inroads from Aizawl’s left flank.
Churchill look for first win
In Vasco, Churchill Brothers would hope for a change in fortune in the New Year when they face table-toppers East Bengal at the Tilak Stadium on Monday.
Churchill have lost all their five matches and are at the bottom of the table.
East Bengal have 16 points.
Elsewhere, hosts Shillong Lajong FC take on Indian Arrows in the reverse fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.
