USFC and Mohun Bagan share points after goalless draw

KOLKATA, 24 Jan: The expectations of a maiden win turned into dead heat as a determined United Sikkim FC held back favourites Mohun Bagan playing at home goalless in the deferred 12th round match of the I-League at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday (January 24).
The deadlocked result helped Mohun Bagan gain the first point of the tournament, after the All India Football Federation allowed the Kolkata side to play condoning a two-and-a-half-year suspension.
Mohun Bagan enjoyed a clear edge in both the halves but suffered cramps in their attack that throttled the possibility of converting opportunities. The two sides shared two opportunities in the first 10 minutes.
The first one came from Sikkim’s Nuruddin Salau whose shot from inside the box went off the upright after touching the hand of Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya. This was followed by a free-kick from Mohun Bagan striker Tolgay Ozbey, which rebounded off the crosspiece.
Syed Rahim Nabi, set in a new role as a striker in the absence of suspended Okolie Odafa by the Mohun Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa, performed well and created some good openings for the hosts. The India team midfielder’s skills were in display in the 16th minute as he weaved through the United Sikkim defence and reached a scoring position.
But his finishing looked rusty and failed to open the account for the home side. Another attempt from Nabi in the 36th minute went a shade wide off the target.
Tolgay, who is the main striker of Mohun Bagan, looked a shadow of his former self. The Australian never looked incisive as he continued fumbling in the attacking zone, which clearly showed a lack of resolve. Bencherifa increased his attacking options introducing Sabeeth early in the second half minute but the three-pronged attack did not yield much as Sikkim packed enough men in the backline.
Denson Devadas wasted one of the easiest chances of the match shooting wide off an open goal, when he was set off by a nice pass from Nabi in the 66th minute.
The draw took United Sikkim to 11 points from 17 matches while Mohun Bagan had one point from 12 matches.
[courtesy: AIFF]