KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club go down 1-2 against Minerva Academy FC in their Final Round encounter of the ongoing I-League 2nd Division at the Barasat Stadium on Sunday.
Both the teams started off with caution, but the visitors took an 27th minute lead through Sehijpal Singh and extended further in the 40th minute through Arshdeep Singh.Meanwhile, for the hosts James Moga pulled a goal back in the 48th minute.
The game began with both sides engaging in some end-to-end action in the initial quarter of the game. But as the game progressed the visitors gradually gained control over the proceedings. Minerva Academy FC were rewarded for their persistent efforts when Sehijpal scored off a Arashpreet Singh pass to put his side ahead.
However, Mohammedan SC responded almost immediately through a long ball sent in by
Bikramjit inside the box but woodwork denied Deepak Kumar from eqaulising for the hosts. Thereafter, Minerva Academy FC continued to push up creating chances infront of the Mohammedan SC goalmouth. The Surinder Singh coached side eventually doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval when Arshdeep received a spectacular pass from Atsushi Yonezawa before finishing with a clinical shot, to give the visitors a two goal cushion at half-time.
Needing a goal, Mohammedan SC made a double substitution at half-time, which made an
immediate impact and considerably changed the course of the game. In came Toure and Manish in place of Bikramjit Singh and debutant Simbarashe.
Within three minutes into the second session Mohammedan SC managed to pull a goal back when Moga rose to meet Mumtaz Akhtar’s delightful cross to half the deficit for the hosts.
Having scored Mohammedan SC attacked with intent and went extremely close on two separate occasions. First it was Faiaz whose attempt was close range was denied by the Minerva keeper
Akashdeep Singh after being set up by Manish in the 65rd minute, followed by a long range effort of Nagen Tamang which missed the target by a whisker in the 73rd minute.
In the remainder of the half despite Mohammedan SC’s spirited attempts to grab the equalizer,Minerva Academy FC held on their lead to log their first win of the league.
Having earned three points Minerva Academy FC (4 pts) moved up to second in the standings behind Neroca FC on goal-difference, while Mohammedan SC stay rooted at the bottom without a point from two games.Mohammedan SC now host Dempo SC on Thursday, 7th April, 2016 at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.