Calcutta: A dab dance and then an Usain Bolt-like celebration. Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, with a hairstyle like that of Arturo Vidal, announced his arrival to Calcutta football in style.
On Friday Mohun Bagan were all over a 10-man Railway FC in the CFL Premier Division A match, but somehow couldn't find the target. They eventually won the game 3-0, though.
The match was into its 65th minute, with the crowd getting restless for a goal. And then the 19-year-old from Shillong did something magical.
Ezz Kingsley played it to Lyngdoh on the right whose delightful right footer swerved and dipped into the far corner, giving rival goalkeeper Rana Chakraborty no chance. It took a couple of seconds for the crowd to register what happened. They roared in unison.
Two more came, one in the 81st minute through Kamo Stephane and third in the injury time from Shilton D'Silva.
But Friday was not just about the 3-0 win. It was about this young bundle of joy called Chesterpaul. He was the Man of the Match and the most sought after man at the Bagan ground.
"I am very happy with this performance. I am happy for the supporters," the Alexis Sanchez fan said after the match. "I celebrated this way when I had scored for Churchill Brothers against Bengaluru FC last season. But then I had done a flip also.
"This time I avoided doing that," Lyngdoh said.
Bagan started well and created a number of chances. Ansumana Kromah and Kamo missed chances galore, while substitute Azaharuddin Mallick also was guilty of muffing up a couple.
Railway FC goalkeeper Chakraborty made some good saves to keep the scoreline goalless till Lyngdoh got drew first blood. Lyngdoh could have got one more, but his delightful chip kissed the horizontal.
Railway FC were a man down in the 44th minute after Amit Samanta was given marching orders for a second bookable offence. On both the occasions, Kromah was fouled.
Bagan's second goal came in the 81st minute. Kamo got a ball at the centre of the park and made his way through the Railway FC defence before placing it home.
The third came deep into the injury-time. Bagan got a corner and Kamo whipped in one into the box. Substitute Shilton flicked it in, much to the delight of the already-celebrating spectators.
This was Bagan's second win in as many matches.
TEAMS
Mohun Bagan: Shibbinraj Kunniyil; Arijit Bagui, Kingshuk Debnath, Ezz Kingshley, Ricky Lallanmawma; Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, Rayner Fernandes, Chandam Surchandra Singh (Narohari Shrestha, 58), Nikhil Kadam (Azaharuddin Mallick, 33rd); Kamo Stephane, Ansumana Kromah (Shilton D'Silva 71).
Railway FC: Rana Chakraborty; Saikat Saha Roy, Nakib Midday, Abhishek Aich, Sukhen Dey, Javed Ansari, Samudyuti Putatanda (Anjan Dey 89), Amit Samanta, Satyen Roy, Sukumar Roy (Avinaba Roy 68th), Mithun Saha.
Referee: Pratik Mondal
MoM: Chesterpaul Lyngdoh
