ATK Mohun Bagan continue winning run in RFDL National Championships

Mumbai, 30 April, 2022: ATK Mohun Bagan emerged as the major winners in the National Qualifiers of the Reliance Foundation Developmental League (RFDL) on Sunday as they defeated SAI-RC 3-0 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Complex in Imphal. Shillong Lajong FC shared the spoils with NorthEast United FC in a 1-1 draw in the other game at the same venue to round off an action-packed day of the tournament.

The final scoreline perhaps doesn’t do justice to the tough fight that SAI-RC came up with against the Mariners in the opening game of the day. Both teams gave each other a tough tussle in the first 45 minutes and neither of them was able to break the deadlock in the first-half. Mohun Bagan, however, emerged as a reinvigorated side in the second-half and managed to get ahead in the 46th minute through a strike from Ningombam Engson Singh.

The team carried on that momentum and doubled the lead with a goal from midfielder Taison Singh in the 53rd minute. SAI-RC tried hard to reduce the deficit thereafter but the Mariners had attained a total stronghold over the proceedings till then. They kept pushing hard going forward and prevented SAI-RC from stitching together any cohesive offensive moves. ATKMB found another star in Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who netted in the 69th minute and completed a thoroughly comprehensive victory against the opponents.

NEUFC found an able competitor in Shillong Lajong FC though, as the game saw no goals for the first 70 minutes. The Highlanders had to call up forward Parthib Gogoi from the bench to find the back of the net in the 71st minute. That, however, sparked some renewed enthusiasm in the Lajong setup as they began pressing high up on the field to recover possession and create more goal-scoring opportunities in the final quarter of the game.

Iaonis Suchen finally capitalised on this momentum by bagging the equaliser in the 86th minute to deprive NorthEast of a well-deserved two points. Lajong rung in some new substitutions in the injury time to press for the winner but the Highlanders managed to keep their attack at bay and ensured that both teams settled for a point each from this faceoff.

Brief Scores
ATK Mohun Bagan 3 (Ningombam Engson Singh 46’, Taison Singh 53’, Suhail Ahmad Bhat 69’) – 0 SAI-RC
Shillong Lajong FC 1 (Ioanis Suchen 86’) – 1 (Parthib Gogoi 71’) NorthEast United FC

Schedule – Monday, 1st May, 2023
Mumbai
Velsao SCC v Mumbai City FC – 8 am, Reliance Corporate Park
East Bengal v RF Young Champs – 8 pm, Reliance Corporate Park

For all the latest updates of RFDL Season 2, please visit us here: https://www.rfyouthsports.com/football/rfdl/home 

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