Kolkata: Powered by a Sony Norde brace, Mohun Bagan bounced back to rout defending champions Bengaluru FC 4-1 in the I-League football tournament at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on Friday.
The Haitian recruit struck twice (30, 76th) and played a brilliant assist to Katsumi Yusa (86th), while Bikramjit Singh (90+2nd) completed the tally as Mohun Bagan bounced back with a bang after conceding a 10th minute lead with Sunil Chhetri's early strike.
The resounding victory meant Mohun Bagan jumped past East Bengal, Bengaluru FC and Pune FC to second spot behind Royal Wahingdoh in the table with 11 points from five matches as they remained unbeaten.
It would be a reality check of sorts for the Federation Cup and I-League champions who slumped to their third loss this season with 10 points from seven matches.
In their last visit here, BFC were handed 0-1 loss by East Bengal.
Norde who was signed from the Bangladeshi Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi outfit was at his best as he along with Pierre Boya and Yusa toyed with the visitors defence to hand the defending champions their second successive defeat at this venue.
"I gave my best and my team won. This is for the supporters and my family," man of the match Norde said dedicating his victory to the green and maroon supporters.
Bengaluru FC caught Mohun Bagan napping when Lyngdoh intercepted Dhanachandra easily and played out a cross to his captain.
Debjit Majumder was in the path but the young goalkeeper missed the flight as Chhetri tapped the ball in for an easy lead.
Having conceded an early lead, Mohun Bagan fought their way back into the game with a brilliant Sony Norde strike in the 30th minute when he blasted the ball into the back of the net with a powerful rightfooter.
It appeared to be a goalkeeping lapse by Lalthuammawia Ralte who wanted to play a long ball to John Johnson but Norde latched on the weak pass before smashing it into the top corner for the equaliser.
The early possession did belong to the visitors but after Norde's equaliser, Mohun Bagan attacked with renewed vigour and the Haitian looked menacing up front along with Pierre Boya.
After the changeover both teams began cautiously before Norde brought life into the match when he surged past Bengaluru FC defenders to put it past Ralte into the far corner with his rightfooter.
Having snatched the lead, Norde set up Yusa with a brilliant cross at the far corner as the Japanese midfielder headed it in to make it 3-1.
Toying Bengaluru FC's defence, young Bikramjit added one more to the carnage when he surged to unleash his leftfooter that hit the back of the net taking a deflection from Ralte.
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