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Dear colleagues, Please find below the match report of Salgaocar’s clash against Mohun Bagan in the Hero Federation Cup 2016. Also find below a pre-match press conference report from Bengaluru FC’s tie against Aizawl FC tomorrow. An exclusive interview with Bengaluru FC’s Head Coach Ashley Westwood can be found on: https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=7157 Also find attached two pictures: a. Daryl Duffy's shot is blocked by Mohun Bagan's Pritam Kotal b. Bengaluru FC face an uphill Aizwal FC task *The copyright of the above mentioned pictures lies with AIFF. Please credit AIFF Media for the pictures used.* The dropbox link for exclusive pictures from Salgaocar’s clash against Mohun Bagan can be found below: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8jnef4r20xoukox/AAASTi6OkuFtCFiYY0SYbKLOa?dl=0 *For all updates of the National Team and exclusive pictures please follow our Official Twitter Handle @AIFFMedia at **https://twitter.com/AiffMedia* <https://twitter.com/AiffMedia> *Also follow and like the Official Page of Indian Football Teams on Facebook at **https://www.facebook.com/TheIndianFootballTeam* <https://www.facebook.com/TheIndianFootballTeam> Regards, AIFF Media Team ------------ *JEJE’S BRACE LEADS MOHUN BAGAN TO A 2-3 WIN OVER SALGAOCAR* *AIFF Media Team* *VASCO (GOA):* Mohun Bagan secured a crucial 2-3 win away from home against Salgaocar FC in the first leg of their Hero Federation Cup 2016 encounter at the Tilak Maidan, in Vasco, Goa on Monday (May 02, 2016). Jeje Lalpekhlua’s strikes in the first minute and 83rd minute alongwith an Abhishek Das goal in the 77thminute proved enough for Mohun Bagan to breeze through, after Salgaocar equalized their deficit in the 26th minute through Martin Scott and took the lead in the 31st minute through Calvin Mbarga, which eventually got cancelled. In the Official Post Match Press Conference, Mohun Bagan’s Head Coach Sanjoy Sen praised the determination of his side. “The boys showed that this team is not dependent on one or two individuals. The boys showed that football is a team game,” Sen said suggested that the absence of Sony Norde and Glen Cornell did not affect the side. “It is a delight to see Jeje on the scoresheet. We are privileged to have in our side”, Sen added. Meanwhile, Salgaocar’s Head Coach Mario Soares said, “We will be positive about the reverse fixture and look to give our cent percent in that. We have to fight if we are to get anything out of the second leg” Mohun Bagan got off to the perfect start as the Mariners struck just 27 seconds into kick-off. The Salgaocar defence was caught napping when Subhash Singh’s floated cross from the right flank was comfortably netted home by an unmarked Jeje Lalpekhlua in the box. The forward who had all the time and space in the world simply powered the ball past Karanjit Singh to break the deadlock. In the 26th minute, Salgaocar drew level when Saran Singh delivered a diagonal ball that for Martin Scott. The Scottish midfielder unleashed a swerving shot that rocketed into the net as the scoreline read 1-1. The home-side started to dominate the tie and took the lead in the 31st minute when Daryl Duffy managed to hold the ball and found Calvin Mbarga with a cross from the left flank. Mbarga, managed to put the ball past the Bagan custodian as Salgaocar found the net for the second time in under five minutes to take a solitary goal lead as the socreline read 2-1 in their favour. Duffy who had a free-kick earlier in the half missed the target by inches, also had another attempt to make it 3-1 but he managed to hit it straight at Majumder, after Augustin Fernandes found him with a long ball. At the half-way mark, Salgaocar led Mohun Bagan by 2-1. In the second half, Bagan had a glorious opportunity to draw parity when Jeje tried a shot on the turn after being teed-up by Prabir Das. The forward however shot straight at Karanjit, who parried the ball to safety. After a lot of prompting and probing, Bagan managed to equalize their deficit in the 77th minute when skipper Yusa Kastumi’s cross from the right was tapped in by substitute Abhishek Das to make the scoreline read 2-2. The 2008 Federation Cup winners then sealed the deal when Jeje held off defender Augustin Fernandes as he controlled a long ball from the back by Luciano Sobrosa. The diminutive forward managed to beat Karanjit for the second time as he struck low and hard into the corner to give Bagan a solitary goal lead as the full-time scoreline read 2-3 in the Mariner’s favour. *---* *BENGALURU FC FACE AN UPHILL AIZWAL FC TASK * *AIFF Media Team* *BENGALURU:* In a do or die situation to stay afloat in the Hero Federation Cup, Bengaluru FC are all set to host Aizwal FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on May 03, 2016 in Bengaluru. The kick-off for which is at 9PM IST. Aizwal FC’s existence thus far in the National scene might be for a short time but Jahar Das’s squad have already proved their mettle as they defeated newly crowned Hero I-League Champions Bengaluru FC in the reverse fixture of the Hero Federation Cup last Saturday. Although Aizwal FC clinched a 2-1 win against Bengaluru FC, the vital away goal which Bengaluru FC scored courtesy of Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s strike from distance could prove to be crucial come tomorrow. Speaking in the Official Pre-Match Press Conference Aizwal FC’s Head Coach Jahar Das claimed that it was advantage Bengaluru FC in the Hero Federation Cup tie. “It is not ours, rather their (Bengaluru FC’s) advantage as they will be playing at their home ground and a team like Bengaluru FC are unlikely to go out in the first round. “Although they will be under pressure, they are a good team and we have to be on top of our game if we have to progress into the next round” Explaining his game plan for the win against Bengaluru FC in Aizwal last time around, Das opined, “I told my boys, if we can manage to hold them for first 30 minutes, we can probably get the most out of the match” “We showed character in the game and proved that we are a tough side to beat” However, despite a goal advantage over Bengaluru FC, Das believes that, “Tomorrow’s match will be an equal fight. Both Teams have pluses and minuses, but for us, we want to give the best performance.” Bengaluru FC’s gaffer Ashley Westwood seemed confident going into the tie and looked to cash-in on the home advantage. “We are at home and we have got a good record at home. The lads played very well for the first 30 minutes of the game against Aizwal and we should have taken a 4-0 lead to be honest, but we lost our concentration and that hampered the match for us” “I am sure we will create more chances tomorrow and hopefully score a few goals” added Westwood. The kick-off on May 3 is at 9pm and the match will be streamed live on www.i-league.org *---* Media Department, AIFF. Alternate: me...@the-aiff.com Website: www.the-aiff.com