I-LEAGUE Media Team

GOA: McDowell Mohun Bagan missed a plethora of chances as they settled for a goalless draw against Salgaocar Football Club in an away Hero I-League clash at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Wednesday.

Mohun Bagan started the match as favourites and had plenty of chances to stake claim for full points but their finishing was not up to the mark. Salgaocar, on the other hand, will be happy to walk away with a point given the fact that they missed several of their players.

Mohun Bagan and Salgaocar FC took the field without any of their frontline strikers and it showed in the manner in which the opening 45 minute shaped up.

Mohun Bagan did not have Cameroonian striker Pierre Boya and Bagan missed him terribly. Sony Norde was entrusted with the responsibility of getting the goals and although he did have some chances, the final touch was missing. Sony’s first chance came early in the game when Manish Bhargav sent a through ball which Sony did well to trap and control but his finish was awful: wide of goalkeeper Subrata Paul.

Another chance to Sony went abegging as Augustin Fernandes thwarted his opponent just in time. There was time for yet another chance, this time Sony sent the ball wide of the target.

Salgaocar FC restricted themselves mostly to the midfield and chances were few and far between. The only time they looked like surging ahead when a cross from Rosario Mendes evaded the Bagan defence and fell nicely for Aslon Oliveira. The youngster, however, made a mess of the opportunity.

For the rest of the game, Douhou Pierre tried to lift his teammates and create something out of nothing but the hosts did not seem up to the task.

In the second session, Mohun Bagan continued with their dominating performance and Katsumi Yusa and Sony tried to work their way past a cluttered Salgaocar defence, without much success. In the 54th minute, Bagan’s Pritam Kotal unleashed a powerful shot which goalkeeper Subrata Paul parried away with great difficulty.

Salgaocar had a lucky escape in the 65th minute when a hasty clearance from Gurjinder Kumar saw the ball turn into Salgaoar’s own goal but referee Santosh Kumar spotted an infringement on Balwant Singh and disallowed the goal.

Hero of the Match – Subrata Paul (SFC)