New Delhi: The I-League title race is far from over as Mohun Bagan won a thriller at the Barasat Stadium this evening with an inspirational Jose Barreto and NS Manju providing high drama as they completed their third victory against Dempo SC this season.
This win takes Bagan level on terms with Churchill Brothers at 43 points before the final round with the latter being ahead on goal difference. Dempo SC wouldn’t bother as they still hold onto their fourth spot with authority.
Mohun Bagan welcomed back N.S.Manju at the back while Lal Kamal Bhowmick partnered Marcos Pereira in the middle of the park. Dempo missed John Dias and in came Dominic Noronha at the heart of the defence. Beto started upfront as a striker with Ranti Martins with Nascimento Silviera filling in the central midfield.
The first real incident of the match was in the second minute when a cornerkick was overturned by the referee into a goalkick due to the raised boots of Anthony Pereira; something which one doesn’t often get to see in Indian football.
It was Mohun Bagan who had the first opportunity of the match which came off a dead ball situation. James Singh took a short corner with Marcos delivering a cross from the edge of the box which saw Peter Odafe’s header go wide.
Thereafter, misspasses were the order of the day as both sides struggled to get a footing in the game. Possession was given away after two or three good passes.
Dempo came up with a good move with Beto and Climax combining to release Clifford on the left whose cross was met by Manju to concede a corner. Thereby, began a string of poor corner-kicks by Clifford Miranda and obviously nothing came of it.
Ranti Martins sent in a curling shot from 35 yards which went over the crossbar. However, the best moment of the half was when Habibur’s cross from the right saw Bhaichung volley out of nowhere which reminded the spectators of his goal against Mumbai FC earlier this season.
Two minutes later, a Marcos Pereira free-kick saw the ball land to Peter Odafe but the referee surprisingly gave it as a goalkick to Dempo as goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal went down easily.
Lal Kamal Bhowmick’s delivery from the right once again from a set-piece saw Jose Barreto head it over.
Valeriano Rebello found his way into the referee’s books as he fouled Ishfaq Ahmed midway through the first session. A minute later, Bhaichung was booked for handling the ball inside the area from a free-kick.
The goal came in the 28th minute as Beto lost possession at the center line to James Singh who found Marcos Pereira. The Brazilian’s released Jose Barreto whose first time shot gave Abhijit Mondal no chance to stop.
Mahesh Gawli brought down James Singh and Bagan players made their frustrations known and it resulted in the defender getting booked.
Marcos Pereira’s free-kick from the right saw Bhaichung head it into the net but only after a slight push on Mahesh Gawli and hence the goal was disallowed.
Beto made his first real contribution on the field with a 35 yard free-kick which zoomed it’s way only for goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee to make a save.
Mohun Bagan could have added another just before the break as Bhaichung released Ishfaq Ahmed on the left and the winger slammed it wide despite being unmarked.
The second session started and just three minutes into it Mahesh Gawli and Bhaichung Bhutia were involved in a scuffle. The first chance once again went the home side’s way as Ishfaq Ahmed’s cross saw Manju head the ball off the target.
Mahesh Gawli could have been out as he pushed Bhaichung Bhutia down and the referee after having second thoughts didn’t show the second card to the experienced defender.
Barasat was silenced thereafter as Beto released Anthony Pereira on the right and his cross saw Ranti Martins head it in with defender Peter Odafe wondering what had struck his side.
The match did get a little slow as chances were scarce as were the moves. Lal Kamal Bhowmick released Jose Barreto after trapping the ball but an alert Abhijit Mondal did enough to beat the danger by coming out.
Both clubs introduced fresh legs to instil some pace in the game and thereby help themselves with three points. Jose Barreto saw his shot go wide and then hit the post in the final minute from a Manju cross from the left. Barreto’s cross was headed by substitute Rakesh Masih over the bar.
Dempo had a brilliant chance to finish the game as Clifford Miranda and Beto only had Deepak Mandal to beat but the Brazilian hit it straight to goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.
The final minute of injury time produced the moment for Bagan which sent Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa to jump and thereby ask the fans to roar. Jose Barreto’s cross from the left saw Manju head it home. The crowd went mad and understandably so, Bagan players were ecstatic.
The referee blew his final whistle and an exciting game came to an end. However, Bagan shall miss two key men from their team in the final away match against Mahindra United at Delhi as Marcos Pereira and Lal Kamal Bhowmick have two yellow cards to their names.
Goalscorers Bagan: Jose Barreto (28th min) and NS Manju (90 + 4 min)
Goalscorer Dempo SC: Ranti Martins (55th min)
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