On Thursday Mohun Bagan locked horns with Mohammedan SC in a crucial CFL fixture. Mohun Bagan was keen to win the match to set their foot into the Super Six. Despite coming closer to the desired victory, Mohun Bagan dropped points in the final minute.
Early pressure and goal concede :
From the very first minute of this match, both teams gave their all to win the match which made the initial minutes very cagey. As the game went on Mohammedan looked threatening in attack and picked up their first in the 20th minute. Mohammedan winger Remsanga's grounder attempt went inside from a blunder done by Zahid.
Just after scoring the opening goals, Mohammedan had a golden opportunity to double their lead but Bagan defender Raj Basfore made an outstanding goal-line clearance to keep Mohun Bagan in the match.
Fighting back into the game:
After conceding the goal, Mohun Bagan put all efforts to get back into the game. The Mariners created a few good chances where Vian and Fardin Ali missed two easy chances and ended the first half with one goal down.
An incredible second-half performance:
From the beginning of the second half, Mohun began were looking dangerous and kept knocking on the door. They finally crossed the threshold in the 58th minute when Kiyan Nassiri scored the equalizer with a tight finish. Kiyan chested down an areal pass from Abhishek Suryavanshi with ease and chipped the ball over the onrushing keeper from an acute angle to put it into the net. After scoring the equalizer, Mohun Bagan started pushing for the lead. A couple of attempts went off-target in that period.
In the 81st minute, Mohun Bagan got their desired lead from a spectacular goal scored by Taison Singh. Taison took a curling shot from a distance that went passed the keeper and landed in the top corner. The boys of Bastab Roy turned around the scoreline despite getting down by a goal in the first half.
Late goal concede and dropping two crucial points:
Right after conceding the second goal, Mohammedan shifted gears and put immense pressure on Mohun Bagan's defense. In the added time Mohammedan came close to scoring but the substitute keeper Debnath Mondal's save kept the scoreline intact.
But in the end, SK Faiaz scored from a header and equalized the scoreline. Irshad put a pinpoint cross into the box for SK Faiaz who was left unmarked by the defenders. Faiaz made no mistake to put the ball in. Mohun Bagan got one point instead of three.
Controversy over some decisions:
This high-voltage encounter between two Kolkata rivals was affected by some controversial decisions from the referee. In the first half while attacking Kiyan Nassiri was dragged back by Zudika. Kiyan went down into the box but no foul was given to Mohun Bagan. Surprisingly Kiyan received a yellow for diving.
Coach Bastab Roy took a dig at the referee Pranjal Banerjee saying the build-up for the last goal of Mohammedan started from a goal kick which should've been a corner to Mohun Bagan.
With this draw Mohun Bagan surpass Kalighat in the table to move one spot up and became the favourites to move ahead to the Super Six.
Next up:
Mohun Bagan will be facing Diamond Harbour FC in the final group stage match on Sunday where a defeat by less than six goals will be enough to enter into the Super Six.
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