Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting outplayed the far talented Kerala Blasters by 3-0 in the first quarter-final of the Durand Cup, they march towards the semifinals with this.
A complete show from the debutant Nigerian Abiola Dauda who scored in the 59′ and 84′ and a first-half strike by SK Faiaz in the 17′ ensured a smooth ride to the last four for the Black and White brigade.
MDSP, missed out a lot of key players like Faslu and Abhishek Halder due to injuries and suspension, were looking out pretty weak as a side but it just seemed like a matter of time before they scored.
However, all the credit should go to Azharuddin Malik for holding on to the ball in the middle of the Blasters half and then playing back to Safiul who was playing forward to Abhash Thapa in the match.
Although, attacks kept coming and Dauda got his first big chance in the 58th minute, Marcus played Faiaz inside the box on the right and he in turn found the Nigerian perfectly with his cross, who then made a volley which went over the goal post.
But a first goal was on the cards for the MDSP, as the same Marcus-Faiaz combination, played him inside the box in between two defenders, just a minute later. The Nigerian tricked the keeper, taking him out of the equation and shot towards goal.
Centre-back Marwan tried to take control of the situation, but all he got was a touch before the ball trickled inside the goal, giving Mohammedan Sporting the lead in the match.
