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Sony Norde and the ground
Sony Norde has been the star of the show for the Green and Maroon ever since he set foot on Indian ground last season. The Haitian international took Indian football by storm with his brand of pace and power football combined with his nifty dribbling skills.
Norde was probably the biggest reason why Sanjoy Sen was able to lift the I-League in his first season as coach of Mohun Bagan. With him missing out, Mohun Bagan were dealt a big blow even before the game kicked off.
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The game itself was not one that many purists would have really enjoyed. The pitch at the Kanchenjunga made it nearly impossible for either of the sides to really play any exquisite interplay on the ground.
Both the Kolkata giants resorted to long balls as East Bengal tried to key on to the physical advantage Bernard Mendy enjoyed over Kingshuk Debnath. While Mohun Bagan tried to loft it behind the East Bengal defence that seemed to play a high line for the majority of the game.
With Indian football in need of a facelift following another dismal showing in the World Cup qualifiers, better grounds are certainly of paramount importance.
