Mohun Bagan suffered a 0-6 humiliation against Shandong Luneng in ACL Qualifier Rd 2 . Image Source : Mohun Bagan[/caption]Jinan : Mohun Bagan suffered a humiliating 0-6 loss against hosts Shandong Luneng . Goals from Montillo ,Tardelli , Yang Xu , Zheng Zheng and Wang Yongpo helped the Chinese side to qualify for the ACL play offs . They will now face A League side Adelaide United.
Mohun Bagan earned the right to play in the AFC Champions League Priliminary Stage 1 of the league but wasted the chance to qualify for the play offs . The Chinese side proved to be much superior and were high in confidence right from the start . The weather conditions also proved to be tough for the visitors.
It proved to be a one-sided affair after Argentine striker Walter Montillo put the Organge Lions ahead in the 23rd minute . Mohun Bagan had already been handicapped in their striking force with their marquee striker Cornell Glenn being send back from airport due to visa issues. Despite the absence of Alosi, Shandong top scorer in the Chinese Super League they grabbed an easy win against the Mariners. Shandong had a lot in their striking force to derail the Mohun Bagan defense comprising of Luciano, Kinshuk, Raju and Dhanchandra.
Shandong started their rally of goals in the 23rd minute when Yang cushioned a cross from the right into the path of former Argentine international Walter Montillo, who curled an exquisite left-footer past Mohun Bagan keeper Debjit Majumder. Bagan custodian Debjit was beaten for the second time when Diego Tardelli the Brazilian international who featured in the last year’s Copa America squad scored from Yang pass and pushed the ball powerfully through the ground to give the hosts a two goal lead in the 37th minute . By the end of first half it was Shandong 2-0 Mohun Bagan.
Apart from Sony Norde none of the Bagan footballers were impressive . The Haitian international continued his good form and showed some positive intent with his moves . In fact his shot just missed the target by a whisker . It was Tardelli again who had a role in his team’s third goal . Yang Xu scored from a perfect pass from Tardelli to put the hosts 3-0 up in the 56th minute . Yang scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute . It was almost a carbon copy of Montillo’s opener, with the 28-year-old curling the ball home with his right instead of the left. Zhang scored the 5th in the 76th minutes and Wang Yangpo scored the last and 6th goal just before the close of play .
Shandong and Adelaide United will go head-to-head at the Hindmarsh Stadium on February 9 with a place in Group F of the 2016 AFC Champions League alongside Sanfrecce Hiroshima, 2013 ACL finalists FC Seoul, and Thailand quadruple winners Buriram United up for grabs.
No support from AIFF, Difficult conditions, 100 cr opponent with World Cup coach, 3-4 world cup standard players, technically & physically much advanced opponent, Mohun Bagan boys have played well. We should appriciate the fight offered by the mariners. Luck also was against MB. Two shots on post/ cross bar, one brilliant save by their goal keeper.
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