Mohammedan Sporting start CFL title defence by routing Wari AC 6-0

KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting began their defence of the CFL Premier Division title in emphatic fashion, brushing aside Wari AC 6-0 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Tuesday.
Sajal Bag (32 & 56 minutes), and Lalthankima (78, 85) scored a double each while Ashley Albankoli (66) and T James Singh (75) added 2 more to the tally as the black-and-white brigade gave their season-opening campaign a perfect start.
Bogged down by uncertainty over their participation, Wari managed to hit the training ground only five days ago. But they matched their fancied rivals move by move in the initial period of this CFL Premier Division-opener. Sajal helped Mohammedan Sporting go into the break with a 1-0 lead, but had Wari been a bit more clinical in front of the goal, they could have added more gloss to their fight.
However, the reigning champions looked a different side after the break and once Sajal scored his second in the 56th minute, with a powerful long-ranger, Wari’s resistance was broken.
Mohammedan Sporting seized the opportunity and took full advantage of a disheveled Wari defence, pumping in four more goals in a one-way traffic.
Apuia joins Bagan, Maher to stay at East Bengal:
Mohun Bagan SG on Tuesday announced the signing of Lalengmawia ‘Apuia’ Ralte on a five-year contract. East Bengal FC, on the other hand, extended Jordanian defender Hijazi Maher’s stay for two more seasons.
Maher was one of the standout performers in East Bengal jersey last season.
Apuia — who helped Mumbai City FC win the ISL cup with a MoM performance against Bagan in the final — had been on the radar of several clubs. But Bagan managed to rope in the 23-year-old Mizo midfielder, triggering the release clause in his contract with Mumbai City.