Mohammedan Sporting beat Mohun Bagan to seal CFL title

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting completed a hat-trick of CFL titles in style, beating Mohun Bagan SG 2-0 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Friday to clinch the issue with an all-winning run in the Super Six round.

Fanai Lalremsanga put Andrey Chernyshov's black and white brigade in front in the 13th minute and the imperious David Lalhlansanga made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. David won the Golden Boot with a whopping 23 goals and his latest feat came hot on the heels of winning another top goal scorer's award in the Durand Cup.

This was Mohammedan Sporting's maiden hat-trick of the CFL titles in independent India.

This was also the team's CFL title No. 14, seven of which came in pre-Independent India.

However, unlike the triumphs in the past two seasons, their title-defence this season was more credible given that they beat both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in the Super Six.

Mohammedan Sporting's maiden defeat came against Diamond Harbour FC in the group stage but they finished the championship round (Super Six) with five wins in a row.

They finished the league with 44 points from 17 matches, with East Bengal lying second with 33 points from 14 matches.

Mohammedan Sporting rallied to hold Mohun Bagan 2-2 in the group stage. But East Bengal's hopes for upstaging David & Co. from their march to the title depended on a win by Mohun Bagan, who were playing their first match in the Super Six. However, Remsanga headed home off a Samuel corner to set the tone and David completed the job in the first half itself, beating rival goalkeeper Debnath Mondal with a smart finish.

The CFL derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan have now been rendered inconsequential.