Cummins Leads Mohun Bagan to a Hard-Fought Victory Against Maziya

Sayak Banerjee | 3 Oct 2023

In a match that should have been an easy win, Mohun Bagan struggled but ultimately emerged victorious against Maziya. The absence of captain Subhasish Bose was felt, leading coach Juan Ferrando to fortify the defense with four players. Ferrando deployed a dual-striker formation to secure an early goal, and Hugo Boumous and his teammates tried to attack with short passes. Despite briefly losing possession, Mohun Bagan regained their rhythm.
Mohun Bagan almost scored from a Dimitri Petratos corner, but Hamill’s header went straight into the hands of Maziya FC’s goalkeeper, Hussain Shareef. A backpass from defender Hamill could have cost Mohun Bagan dearly, but they narrowly escaped danger. In the 28th minute, Hugo Boumous scored with a left-footed ground shot from outside the box, giving Mohun Bagan a 1-0 lead.

At the 40-minute mark, a Maziya defender fouled Armando Sadiku inside the box, resulting in a penalty. However, Cummins and Dimitri Petratos failed to convert due to over-creativity. Just before halftime, Maziya equalized with a goal from Tamaki Wada.

In the second half, Mohun Bagan increased the tempo in pursuit of a lead. By the 50th minute, they came close to scoring, but Hussain Shareef stood firm, saving shots from Sadiku and Cummins. Liston and Sadiku were also denied by the Maziya goalkeeper, who seemed like an impenetrable wall. As the 90 minutes concluded, it seemed Mohun Bagan might have to settle for a single point.

However, in the 92nd minute of added time, a pass from Sahal Abdul Samad set up Jason Cummins, who scored with a left-footed ground shot from the small box, securing the victory for Mohun Bagan. Post-match, Cummins and Dimitri were seen in deep conversation, possibly discussing the missed penalty that made the match more challenging.

Facing the press, Mohun Bagan coach Juan Ferrando commented, “They made their own decisions on the field. I don’t think they will make the same mistake twice.”