Salgaocar SC made a confident start to their campaign, easing to 2-0 victory over Mumbai FC in the day’s second Group D clash.
Against a team that nearly made history last year, Bagan kick-started the match with their usual attacking style, keen to show who the big boys of Indian football were. Ali quickly put the Green and Maroon brigade into the lead in the 19th but the Kolkata side were a man down when defender Kingshuk Debnath was given the marching orders in the 40th minute.
Yusif Yakubu and Anthony Barbosa scored on either side of the interval for Salgaocar.
At Cuttack:
Group D: Mohun Bagan: 1 (Muritala Ali 19th) bt Shillong Lajong FC: 0; Salgaocar SC: 2 (Yusif Yakubu 36th, Anthony Barbosa 89th) bt Mumbai FC: 0.
Published 22 September 2010, 17:32 IST