Jeje scored a hattrick for Bagan against Lajong. Image Source: Xtra Time[/caption]Barasat: Mohun Bagan all but sealed their Federation Cup final berth with a magnificent 5-0 win over Shillong Lajong FC in their semi-final first leg at the Barasat Stadium, on Sunday. Jeje Lalpekhlua bagged a hat-trick (40', 51', 55') while Bikramjit Singh (45') and Azharuddin Mallick (87') also added to the score-line.
The hosts had a flurry of chances in the sixth minute with three corners on the trot. The first was blocked on the line, the keeper had to parry away the second and the third was directed above the target by Sony Norde.
Cornell Glen however, wasted a great chance three minutes later. Jeje chested a ball down for the Trinidadian who only managed to blaze it over the target with the goal at his mercy. Sony Norde carried the ball forward with purpose in the 33rd minute and played in Glen to his left. The striker's shot from an acute angle inside the box however went wide.
The Mariners were beginning to have more attempts at goal and finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute. Norde does brilliantly to skip past a couple of defenders with ease before unleashing a powerful effort on target. Vishal Kaith can only palm it as far as Jeje who pounces on the rebound to give his side the lead.
Bagan doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Glen flicked a ball on for Bikramjit Singh who had darted into the box in space and the midfielder surprised everyone with a cracking left-footed drive that thundered in off the underside of the crossbar. The two sides went into the break with the hosts leading 2-0.
Bagan stretched the lead into the start of the second period to see his side extend their lead. Norde flicked the ball forward for Glen who broke away from Tamang and knocked the ball past Kaith before Jeje helped it into an empty net to make it 3-0 to the Kolkatans.
Jeje completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute to add to Lajong's misery. Following some quick from Glen to beat Kumar and drill a ball across the face of the goal, the Indian international was on hand again to poke the ball home.
With just three minutes of regulation time to play, Mallick got on the score sheet as well thanks to an assist from Sony Norde as the game ended 5-0 to Bagan. The result means that Sen's troops are all but guaranteed a spot in the final barring an extraordinary Lajong comeback in the return leg.
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