Calcutta: Sony Norde and Darryl Duffy scored once in each half as Mohun Bagan defeated Colombo Football Club (CFC) 2-1 in the return leg fixture to storm into the play-off stage of the AFC Cup South Asia Zone on 4-2 aggregate on Tuesday. Seka Yapo scored a consolation goal for the Sri Lankan side.
Mohun Bagan will now face Maldives outfit Valencia FC on February 21 and 28 in away and home encounters, respectively.
Norde, making a comeback into the team after missing out because of a hamstring injury, showed glimpses of returning to form ahead of the I-League Derby against East Bengal in Siliguri on Sunday. The Haitian made his presence felt during the 62 minutes on the field with regular forays down the left flank and exposing the frailties in the rival ranks.
Norde fired in a volley from around 22 yards to the top right corner of the net to give Mohun Bagan the lead in the 28th minute. Katsumi Yusa placed the ball for Duffy and he set it up well for Norde, whose cracking volley nestled into the net.
Then in the 56th minute, Norde dribbled past a couple of defenders, cut in dangerously and placed the ball on a platter for Duffy to nod into an empty net.
Mohun Bagan could have increased the margin had substitute Balwant Singh not wasted a penalty in the 76th minute. Balwant's shot was saved by Mohammed Imran after Afeel Mohammed committed a handball inside the box.
Duffy wasted a sitter in the first session after failing to connect Katsumi's low cross.
The visitors managed to take the field with all their three foreigners - Nasiru Opeyemi, Seka Jean Yapo and Afeez Olofin. The visa hurdles were cleared and they managed to reach the city around 11.30 am. That hardly made a difference to their fortunes as Mohun Bagan were the dominant team right through the match.
Sanjay Sen though didn't seem too pleased with their performance. "We had three things in mind... Win, provide adequate rest to the players and shouldn't concede any goal. We never wanted to put in full effort today... But we shouldn't have conceded the goal," said the Mohun Bagan coach.
He admitted that Norde will have to play better in the Derby. "Norde will have to put in more effort," said Sen. "We have a shaky defence... The players have to be more careful."
Mohun Bagan had rested first-team players Debjit Majumder, Pritam Kotal and Sehnaj Singh while Norde, Katsumi and Duffy were substituted to provide the players with adequate rest.
Mohun Bagan survived a few close chances when Bikramjit Singh made a near goalline save after Shilton Paul had wandered off his line.
TEAMS
Mohun Bagan: Shilton Paul, Souvik Chakraborty, Anas Edathodika, Bikramjit Singh Jr, Souvik Ghosh, Katsumi Yusa (Azharuddin, 84), Pronay Halder, Bikramjit Singh Sr, Sony Norde (Balwant Singh, 62), Jeje Lalpekhlua, Darryl Duffy (Raynier Fernandes, 71).
Colombo FC: Mohamed Imran, Charitha, Nasiru Opeyemi, Afeel Mohamed, Chalana Chameera, Seka Yapo, Rawme Mohideen, Nagur Meera (Dilan Acharige 72), Channa Ediri, Cassim Rifnas (Mohammed Zarwan 55), Afeez Olofin (Mohammed Issadeen 86).
Referee: Ahmed Mohammed Alali (Jordan).
