Sahal hat-trick powers Mohun Bagan to perfect Durand Cup group stage

Mariners sail into last eight

Mohun Bagan completed a flawless Durand Cup group stage campaign on Monday, overpowering CISF Protectors with a commanding display. The 4-0 victory at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata ensured the Mariners topped their group and booked a quarterfinal berth without dropping a single point.

The star of the evening was Sahal Abdul Samad, who walked away with the match ball after a brilliant hat-trick. His performance underlined the attacking depth in the Mohun Bagan squad as they continue their title defence.

Sahal takes centre stage

Sahal opened the scoring in the first half, latching onto a well-worked move to slot past the CISF goalkeeper. He doubled the lead shortly after the break with a composed finish, and completed his treble late in the game, much to the delight of the home crowd.

The midfielder's movement between the lines proved too much for the CISF defence to handle. His third goal, a clinical strike from inside the box, sealed the contest and brought the stands to their feet.

Dominant all-round display

Mohun Bagan controlled possession for large spells and created chances at will. The fourth goal, scored by a teammate in the closing stages, rounded off a thoroughly professional performance.

CISF Protectors, to their credit, tried to stay compact and hit on the break, but rarely threatened the Mariners' goal. The gulf in quality was evident, with Mohun Bagan's passing and pressing leaving the CISF outfit chasing shadows for most of the match.

Perfect record, big statement

With this win, Mohun Bagan finished the group stage with a 100 per cent record, a sign of intent from one of the tournament favourites. The coaching staff will be pleased with the team's consistency, having rotated the squad across matches without losing momentum.

The quarterfinal stage now awaits, where the Mariners will face a tougher challenge. Their attacking form, led by Sahal, will give them confidence, but the knockouts demand sharper defending and smarter game management.

What to watch

Mohun Bagan will now turn their attention to the quarterfinal, where they will meet a yet-to-be-decided opponent. With Sahal in red-hot form and the team firing on all cylinders, the Mariners look well placed to go deep in the competition. The coming days will reveal whether they can carry this momentum into the business end of the tournament.