AFC Cup: Mohun Bagan AC thrash South China, Bengaluru FC lose

New Delhi: Mohun Bagan notched up their second consecutive victory with a 4-0 thrashing of a 10-man South China of Hong Kong in an away match of the AFC Cup football tournament here.

The I-League champions, who had blanked Maldives side Maziya Sports and Recreation 5-2 in their home match in Guwahati last month, enjoyed another sound outing to enhance their chances of advancing to the next round.

Bagan saw four different scorers on the night as that will please the support staff. Lenny Rodrigues (15th minute), Sony Norde (39th), Cornell Glen (45th) and Jeje Lalpekhlua (82nd) in a Group G encounter at Mongkok Stadium.

The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the first half and never recovered from the loss. Rodrigues opened the scoring after the goalkeeper parried off a Katsumi Yusa free-kick. The Bagan starry forward line added two more in the first half and took control of the proceedings.

Jeje then got into the score-sheet as well after heading into the net from a Katsumi free-kick.

Mohun Bagan remained on top of Group G with six points from two matches, two points clear of Yangon United of Myanmar, who played out a 1-1 draw with Maziya Sports and Recreation in Male, Maldives.

Mohun Bagan next play Yangon United of Myanmar on March 16 in Guwahati.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC, who are joint leaders of I-League, registered their second loss of the tournament. The Ashley Westwood managed side suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to defending champions Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in a Group H encounter at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here.

A solitary strike from Safiq Rahim (55') was enough to see the Malaysian side secure all three points.