By Sayantan Maitra
I-LEAGUE Media Team
NEW DELHI: Kolkata giants McDowell Mohun Bagan stay on top of the Hero I-League table for atleast two weeks now as the tournament gets a fortnight’s break following the end of Gameweek 9, owing to the players of respective Clubs heading for international assignments.
In this Round, Sanjoy Sen’s side were held by Dempo SC with a 1-1 scoreline at Fatorda on Wednesday, but that one point was enough to make the Mariners return to the top of the table with 15 points, as they have a better head-to-head record against Pune FC, who are also on the same points.
Balwant Singh made the breakthrough for the visitors in the match, but his strike was cancelled out by Dempo skipper Calum Angus in the dying minutes with a powerful shot. Haitian forward Sony Norde, who assisted Balwant for Bagan’s goal, was shown a direct red card in the game just before half time, for a foul on Nirmal Chhetri.
It was a good comeback for the Goan side following their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of East Bengal just days before in Gameweek 8, which also resulted in the Club’s parting of ways with Chief Coach Arthur Papas.
Salgaocar FC recorded a 2-1 victory against low riding Shillong Lajong FC in their game at Fatorda. Scottish forward Darryl Duffy opened the scoring for the home side, only to be equalised by Lajong topscorer Cornell Glen.
However, Douhou Pierre provided the vital lead to the home side just before the first half, and the score remained that until the end of the game, which also saw SFC defender Augustin Fernandes getting a direct red in the first half.
In a fiercely-contested game at the Cooperage Stadium, Brazilian striker Josimar da Silva scored early on in the 2nd half of the game for the home side and provided the equaliser for Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s first half strike for Bengaluru FC.
Eugene, the BFC midfield maestro, who also got his first-ever call up to the India National Team camp, kept his scoring form intact as he gave Ashley Westwood’s side the lead, but Mumbai FC, a completely resurgent side, came back and held them 1-1 on the matchday.
In Pune, debutantes Bharat FC got their second win of the competition as they got past rockbottom Sporting Clube de Goa in their Round 9 game of the Hero I-League.
Former India International Mehrajuddin Wadoo scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 result, as the defender headed the ball, which came off a Lester Fernandez corner, powerfully inside the goal.
The result took the Pune-based outfit to the eighth position in the table, and Sporting Goa stayed winless even after eight games, as they acquired just three points so far.
The Hero I-League now takes a fortnight’s break owing to the ongoing National Team Camp taking place in Guwahati, where India take on Nepal over two legs – the second one being in Kathmandu.
The Club action resumes on March 21 with Gameweek 12. The 10th and the 11th Round of the league will take place in May.
Top 3 Teams (in order of Ranking):
McDowell Mohun Bagan – 15 points (better head-to-head record)
Pune FC – 15 points
Bengaluru FC – 14 points
Top Goalscorer:
Ranti Martins (KEB) – 10 goals from 7 games
