Kolkata clubs Mohammedan Sporting and Bhawanipore FC left the Sunday crowd disappointed with a surprisingly poor exhibition of football as they played out a goalless draw in their I-League Second Division final round, first leg match at the Bangalore Football stadium.
Sporting’s Jerry Zersingha’s shot in the fourth minute of stoppage time outside the area was the potential winner that the Sanjoy Sen-coached side wasted in a match where neither team dominated the other.
Half chances were the order of the day for the spectators, with Korean striker Wi Hyju, Alfred Jaryan and Gaurang Dutta unable to deliver the knock-out punch for Sporting when it mattered.
Jaryan was in focus in the 22nd minute when he sneaked in through the right to shoot only for it to be intercepted by a couple of Bhawanipore defenders while Dutta, who was the creative engine for Sporting in the midfield, was guilty of not finding the net off a header in the 37th minute. The wiry Hyju’s 55th minute shot off a Gaurang Dutta then sailed inches wide off the goalpost.
Nabin Hela's bicycle kick for Bhawanipore in the 79th minute was the closest the Juliano Fontana-coached side came to giving their more fancied rivals a scare. Even though the match was played at a fast pace with possession swapping legs quickly, what was on view were mispasses coupled with lack of imagination in the midfield.
Monday will be a rest day while matches resume on Tuesday with Bhawanipore taking on Rangdajied United FC, Shillong and Mumbai Tigers clashing with Southern Samity.
Bagan stun Dempo
Mohun Bagan remained on course to avoid relegation with an upset 2-1 win over holders Dempo in a round 15 I-League fixture in Kalyani on Sunday.
Syed Rahim Nabi (7th) gave Bagan an early lead while Odafa Okolie (47th), who returned after recovering from fever, completed the tally to hand the Goan heavyweights a fourth successive defeat. Peter Carvalho pulled one back for Dempo SC in the 51st minute but they could not add to the tally.
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