Kolkata club Mohammedan Sporting kept alive the dream of winning their second Durand Cup football tournament title, as they beat Mumbai Tigers 3-1 in the semi-final at the Ambedkar Stadium here on Monday.
Mohammedan Sporting, who will compete in the I-League beginning Saturday, dominated the match as they led 2-0 at half time in front of a sizeable crowd.
The Kolkata club scored through Penn Orji (2nd minute), Collin Abranches (45+1) and Antony Soren (65th). Mumbai Tigers coach, Bimal Ghosh, made three changes in the second half and the team played more attacking football. International Nallapan Mohanraj, who played in the recent Saff Championship in Kathmandu, added thrust to their attack with his long throws but the defense of Mohammedan Sporting stood firm.
Striker Bikash Jairu, tournament’s top scorer, pulled one back for the Mumbai outfit in the 82nd minute. In the remaining time, Mohammedan Sporting held on to win comfortably and get into the final after a 20 year long wait.
In the summit clash on Thursday, Mohammedan Sporting play the winner of Tuesday’s second semi-final between Indian Navy and ONGC.
Mohammedan Sporting had won their maiden Durand Cup title in 1940 here. They lost in the final on three occasions — in 1959 and 1980 against Mohun Bagan and in 1992 against JCT Mills.