Internet Desk: Mohun Bagan dropped a couple of points against Sporting Clube de Goa on Wednesday evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa. Brandon Fernandes put the visitors ahead but a Raju Gaikwad own goal saw the points being split.
Mohun Bagan made just one change from the side that played against Salgaocar with Sanjay Balmuchu being replaced by Luciano Sabrosa who returned to the side after suspension. Sporting on the other hand made as many as four changes Ravanan, Wadoo, Devadas and Pratesh Shirodkar made way for Joseph Clement, S. Bose, Glan Martins and Rowlin Borges.
Odafa Okolie could have put the home side into the lead inside the opening ten minutes but sailed his shot wide after beating Debjit Majumder. This was after Borges sent the Nigerian striker through on goal.
Sporting were doing well to close down Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde, in the flanks not giving them enough space to turn. Cornell Glen had a half chance in the 21st minute as his shot deflected off Loveday Enyinnaya only for Clemente to clear it in time.
The Mariners opened their account just a couple of minutes before the half hour mark. Norde got past Clemente on the left and sent in a perfect cross for Brandon Fernandes whose shot took a deflection off Raju Gaikwad on its way in. Brandon injured himself few minutes later and was soon replaced by Pronay Halder.
Costa responded by introducing Victorino Fernandes for Ganesh Thakur and the move indeed paid off. Victorino’s low cross from the right went across the face of goal with Bagan’s Raju Gaikwad slotting it in. Odafa missed a sitter at the end of the half way mark.
At the end of the first half, the score line remained 1-1.
Just at the beginning of the second half Odafa had one more chance but his final topuch was very poor. Norde initiated a counterattack in the 55th minute as he intercepted an Amna pass and moved forward to find Glen. The former Trinidad and Tobago striker’s dummy saw Loveday go out of the equation but his final shot was straight into the hands of Arindam Bhattacharya.
At the half hour mark, Odafa shot was brilliantly saved by Debjit. In the 82nd minute, Sporting could have found the winner when Victorino’s shot was kept out by the Bagan custodian.
Just at the end of the 90 minutes Odafa’s brilliant shot was brilliantly blocked by Kinshuk. The chances missed by Odafa alone were silly and horrible. If he could convert those chances it could have sealed the deal for the Flaming Orange.
The score-line remained the same until the final whistle was blown with both team sharing the spoils. Mohun Bagan continue their unbeaten run and lead the standings with 22 points while Sporting occupy the fourth position and have gained 13 points.
Mohun Bagan will next play Mumbai FC at Barasat on 13th March.
Brandon Fernandes put the visitors ahead but a Raju Gaikwad own goal saw the points being split.
Mohun Bagan made just one change from the side that played against Salgaocar with Sanjay Balmuchu being replaced by Luciano Sabrosa who returned to the side after suspension. Sporting on the other hand made as many as four changes Ravanan, Wadoo, Devadas and Pratesh Shirodkar made way for Joseph Clement, S. Bose, Glan Martins and Rowlin Borges.
Odafa Okolie could have put the home side into the lead inside the opening ten minutes but sailed his shot wide after beating Debjit Majumder. This was after Borges sent the Nigerian striker through on goal.
Sporting were doing well to close down Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde, in the flanks not giving them enough space to turn. Cornell Glen had a half chance in the 21st minute as his shot deflected off Loveday Enyinnaya only for Clemente to clear it in time.
The Mariners opened their account just a couple of minutes before the half hour mark. Norde got past Clemente on the left and sent in a perfect cross for Brandon Fernandes whose shot took a deflection off Raju Gaikwad on its way in. Brandon injured himself few minutes later and was soon replaced by Pronay Halder.
Costa responded by introducing Victorino Fernandes for Ganesh Thakur and the move indeed paid off. Victorino’s low cross from the right went across the face of goal with Bagan’s Raju Gaikwad slotting it in. Odafa missed a sitter at the end of the half way mark.
At the end of the first half, the score line remained 1-1.
Just at the beginning of the second half Odafa had one more chance but his final topuch was very poor. Norde initiated a counterattack in the 55th minute as he intercepted an Amna pass and moved forward to find Glen. The former Trinidad and Tobago striker’s dummy saw Loveday go out of the equation but his final shot was straight into the hands of Arindam Bhattacharya.
At the half hour mark, Odafa shot was brilliantly saved by Debjit. In the 82nd minute, Sporting could have found the winner when Victorino’s shot was kept out by the Bagan custodian.
Just at the end of the 90 minutes Odafa’s brilliant shot was brilliantly blocked by Kinshuk. The chances missed by Odafa alone were silly and horrible. If he could convert those chances it could have sealed the deal for the Flaming Orange.
The score-line remained the same until the final whistle was blown with both team sharing the spoils. Mohun Bagan continue their unbeaten run and lead the standings with 22 points while Sporting occupy the fourth position and have gained 13 points.
At the end of the match, Sanjoy Sen rued of the fact that a genuine penalty of Cornell Glen was denied by the referee.
Sanjoy looked unhappy with Mohun Bagan’s performance as a team. He quoted, “We did not play well. We were very scattered in the middle half of the game. If the chances were converted result could have been different.” Sanjoy later claimed Sporting utilised their midfield by fielding 4 U-22 players who were quite speedy.
Although Glen looked quite clumpsy upfront Sanjoy stood by his side and added that a striker cannot score every single day.
The gaffer signed off saying,” I have warned my players aboutbthe mistakes they committed as we will face Mumbai FC next which will also be a tough clash. I have asked my boys not to be complacent at all although we are leading the table.”
Mohun Bagan will next play Mumbai FC at Barasat on 13th March.
Meanwhile, Brandon Fernandes the goal scorer for the Mariners who injured himself in the match was taken for MRI post match.