KALYANI: Mohammedan Sporting defeated Ar-Hima by a solitary goal in the opening match of Federation Cup preliminary round at the Kalyani Stadium on Thursday.

Stanley Okoroigwe scored the all-important goal for the Kolkata outfit in the 34th minute in a Group A match.

Mohammedan Sporting dominated the fielf for most part of the match over their Meghalaya opponents. They could have won by a bigger margin but for poor finishing by their strikers.

Suroj Mondal, Surajit Bose and Stanley wasted chances from close. The Black-and-White were also unlucky to have been deprived once by the crosspiece.

Sporting coach Aloke Mukherjee was not willing to go overboard after his side’s win.

“It’s the perfect start to the new season. But this is just the beginning. I’m happy that we won. We are yet to play to our full potential. The team will take some time to settle down,” he said.

“My first priority is to take the team through to the main phase of the Federation Cup.”

Mohammedan Sporting next play Goa’s Vasco Sports Club on September 12.

On Friday, Baichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim Football Club take on ONGC at Mohun Bagan ground in Kolkata while Southern Samity play Royal Wahingdoh of Shillong at Howrah Stadium.

Sporting next play Goa’s Vasco Sports Club on September 12.

Friday’s matches:(GROUP B)

Match 1: Southern Samity vs Royal Wahingdoh – Howrah Stadium – 2.45pm

Match 2: United Sikkim Football Club vs ONGC – Mohun Bagan ground – 2.45pm

With PTI inputs

 

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