Chhangte scores four, including a hat-trick, as Mohun Bagan SG launch their IFA Shield title defense with a commanding 6–0 victory over Sreenidi Deccan.

Kolkata, September 23: The defending champions kicked off their IFA Shield defense with a 6–0 win over Sreenidi Deccan on Wednesday at the Mohun Bagan Ground. The rainy afternoon witnessed goals rain down on the ground too, as Lalrinzuala Chhangte produced a dominant display, contributing four goals, including a hat-trick, and remarkably Lee Erwin scored a goal in his debut.

From start to finish, the goals kept coming, while several defensive lapses from Sreenidi Deccan were clearly visible. In the 8th minute, Abhishek Suryavanshi broke the deadlock for the Mariners, converting Drazic’s pass with a long-range strike. In the 15th minute, Mohun Bagan almost doubled their lead when Chhangte’s low cross from the left found Miguel, but his shot narrowly missed the target.

In the 24th minute, Sreenidi Deccan created probably their best chance of the match to equalise, but Mohun Bagan’s last line of defence, Vishal, was alert to deal with the threat.

From an attack, Adriano was positioned at the right post and was left unmarked, but before he could attempt a shot from close to the goal line, Vishal cleared the danger. The rebound fell back to Adriano, who tried another shot, but Vishal this time held on to the ball.

Around the 40th-minute mark, Deepak Tangri challenged David Munoz just at the edge of the box, giving Sreenidi Deccan a promising opportunity to find an equaliser. Pape took the resulting free-kick, but his shot deflected off Alberto Rodriguez, and an injury situation followed as the scoring chance went begging.

Before half-time, in the 44th minute, Miguel received a pass from Liston on the left and set up the ball in the middle of the box, where Chhangte made no mistake, placing it into the net to score his first goal in the green and maroon jersey.

The second half began from where the first had ended, with Mohun Bagan becoming even more dominant, Sreenidi Deccan lost their rhythm gradually. In the 54th minute, Chhangte made it 3–0 for Mohun Bagan SG. Maclaren sent a cross from the left into the box, and after beating Pronoy Haldar with a dodge, Chhangte capitalised on the opportunity and sent it into the net.

Within seven minutes, Chhangte completed his hat-trick. As the goals kept coming, the defensive lapses continued to trouble Sreenidi Deccan. Miguel unleashed the ball from the left, which Pritam Kotal tried to intercept, but it fell to Chhangte, who made no mistake in sending it into the net.

As the game went on the margin getting increased for the Mariners, and the fifth goal came through substitute Sandeep Malik, who converted Kiyan Nassiri’s assist. Just two minutes later, in the 82nd minute, Lee Erwin found his debut goal in his debut match for Mohun Bagan, meeting Chhangte’s cross with a header to seal a 6–0 victory.

The result was settled long before the final whistle, but the biggest takeaway was the manner of Mohun Bagan’s performance. Sreenidi Deccan struggled to contain the Mariners as the game progressed, while Chhangte kept finding space and making the most of every opportunity. For the defending champions, it was a convincing opening to their Shield campaign and a afternoon where almost every strategy clicked out.