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Figueira's winner spoils SC Delhi's home debut as Mohun Bagan come from behind
Lalrinliana Hnamte put the hosts ahead in front of 14,971 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but Lee Erwin and Miguel Figueira struck four minutes apart after the break to give Bagan their first points of the ISL season.
Key points
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant beat Sporting Club Delhi 2-1 on Friday night after trailing at half-time.
- Lee Erwin and Miguel Figueira scored in the 56th and 60th minutes to turn the game.
- SC Delhi drew a crowd of 14,971 for their first home match but are 12th after two defeats.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant came from a goal down to beat Sporting Club Delhi 2-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday night, collecting their first points of the Indian Super League season and taking the shine off the hosts’ first home game.
Lalrinliana Hnamte gave Delhi a first-half lead. After the break Lee Erwin equalised in the 56th minute, and Miguel Figueira scored the winner four minutes later. Delhi kept pressing until the final whistle but could not find a way back.
A crowd for the newcomers
The night belonged to the Delhi supporters for most of the first half. A crowd of 14,971 came to watch the club’s first home fixture, a turnout that SC Delhi marked in a statement: “The Friday night crowd turned out to back the team.”
Tomasz Tchórz’s side started brightly. Juan Pena tested Vishal Kaith early in the Bagan goal, while at the other end Nora Fernandes made saves to keep out Rahul Bheke and Figueira.
The opening goal came in the 23rd minute. Manoj Mohammad picked out Hnamte, who finished with his left foot into the bottom left corner. Rodriguinho tried his luck from distance before half-time and forced Kaith into another stop, and Delhi went in a goal to the good.
How the match turned
Bagan, who had lost their opener to a stoppage-time goal in Guwahati, needed only four minutes in the second half to change the game. Bheke turned provider in the 56th minute, setting up Lee Erwin for the equaliser. In the 60th, Lalengmawia Ralte supplied Figueira, who put the visitors ahead.
Delhi pushed for a reply. Rodriguinho went close in the 72nd minute, and Nora Fernandes had to stay alert as Samir Zeljković tested him, Alberto Rodríguez headed over and Manvir Singh forced a save. Hnamte had the last chance for the hosts in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but sent his effort over the bar.
Where it leaves them
For Panagiotis Dilmperis’s Bagan, the win steadies a campaign that began with a 1-0 defeat at NorthEast United. They travelled to Delhi without the suspended midfielder Deepak Tangri and did not hold a pre-match press conference.
Delhi have now lost both their matches after leading at half-time. They were 2-1 up at the break in their opener against Bengaluru FC before losing 3-2. The defeat leaves them 12th in the table, still waiting for a first point despite the backing they drew on Friday.