Bengaluru's Bagan jinx continues
Bengaluru FC were held to a goalless draw at home by 10-man Mohun Bagan in a fiercely fought match at the Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. Bengaluru have now failed to win in any of their four encounters against Bagan at home.
Bengaluru dominated possession in the first half, while Bagan relied on counter attacks as both sides created decent goal-scoring opportunities. Balwant Singh came close for Bagan around the half-hour mark following a set piece, but his header was saved. Eugeneson Lyngdoh came closest for Bangalore, most notably in the 40th minute when his shot from the edge of the box went just wide. Bagan's leading scorer Darryl Duffy also had a shot on target minutes before the break, but his half volley was saved by Arindam.
Bengaluru continued to press for an opening in the second half, but the Bagan defence remained resolute.
Mohun Bagan went down to ten men in the 68th minute when Subhasish Bose was sent off for a second yellow after a foul on Udanta Singh.
Sunil Chhetri hit the side netting in the 74th minute after finding space inside the box to shoot with his left foot.
There was further controversy in the game when Bagan had a goal disallowed in the 82nd minute following a set-piece. Katsumi Yusa's header found the back of the net, but was adjudged as a foul on Arindam by the referee.
With a man down, Bagan had to defend deep in the closing stages and required some last-ditch blocks to keep the hosts out.
This was BFC's 6th draw of the season and they remain fifth with 18 points, 12 behind leaders Aizawl. Mohun Bagan are third on 23 points, having played two fewer games than Aizawl.
The two teams will meet again at the Kanteerava within a week's time for their AFC Cup group match.
DSK demolish Mumbai 5-0
Holicharan Narzary's first-half brace led DSK Shivajians to a resounding 5-0 win over Mumbai FC in Pune in I-League round 14 on Saturday.
Shivajians thus avenged their narrow 1-0 defeat against Mumbai earlier in the season and climbed up to seventh in the table with 14 points. They also matched the biggest margin of victory this season in the league, with East Bengal having registered a similar scoreline against Minerva earlier in the season.
Narzary scored in the 15th and 27th minutes to put the home side in control in the first half. Sanju Pradhan made it 3-0 in the 48th, before Lallianzuala Chhangte (67') and Jerry Mawihmingthanga (83') rounded off an impressive night.
Leaders Aizawl held by Minerva
Omoloja Kareem's late strike helped Minerva FC salvage a point against league leaders Aizawl FC in Chandigarh on Saturday.
Syrian international Mahmoud Al Amna gave Aizawl the lead in the 43rd minute before Lalthakima made it 2-0 in the 56th. Loveday Okechukwu pulled one back for Minerva in the 61st minute and Kareem equalized in the 81st.
Aizawl had run out 1-0 winners the last time the two teams met in the league. The Mizoram side remain on top with 30 points, but the two dropped points mean that both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan now have a chance to catch up with games in hand.