I-League: Mohun Bagan outplay Indian Arrows to stay alive in title race

Vasco, February 27: Indian Arrows went down to Mohun Bagan 0-2 in their final I-League game of the season at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Tuesday (February 27).

First-half goals from Dipanda Dicka (26th minute) and Akram Moghrabi (41st) were enough for the Mariners to keep their title hopes alive. Their points tally reached to 27 with two games left. They are still five behind leaders Minerva Punjab.

Dicka slams his twelfth goal of this @ILeagueOfficial season to keep @Mohun_Bagan's title hope alive as well as win himself the Hero of the Match award.#HeroILeague #ARWvMB pic.twitter.com/C48RtF3JOM

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) February 27, 2018

Meanwhile, Arrows who are the youngest-ever team to compete in the I-League, finished tenth in the league with 15 points from their 18 outings.

In their final game of the season, Luis Norton de Matos rang in five changes from the side that lost to Aizawl FC as Jitendra Singh, Amarjit Singh, Rahim Ali, Rahul KP were introduced in the Starting XI.

As for Bagan, Sankarlal Chakraborty made only one change with Kingshuk Debnath taken off to bring in Rana Gharami in defence.

Bagan looked to have come with a plan and Nikhil Kadam, Dipanda Dicka and Azharuddin Mallick all looked dangerous up front.

The intent of the youngsters is what impressed coach Matos and he feels these bunch of boys will surely go a long way. #HeroILeague #ARWvMB pic.twitter.com/djOHLCgh3O

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) February 27, 2018

Arrows' Rahim Ali was operating up front with bursts of energy and tried a shot from distance that lacked precision. Meanwhile, Bagan showed their clinical edge and Dicka demonstrated why he is a goal-scoring predator.

The forward drew first blood in the 26th minute. Arrows left space between their defence and midfield and Bagan exploited it. Dicka got in behind Jitendra Singh, who failed to read a lob down the middle from Cameron Watson.

Instinctively, Dicka controlled it, positioned himself and struck an overhead kick on the volley. It was a goal of pure skill as the Cameroonian took his tally to 12 goals this season.

Bagan enjoyed the bulk of possession and looked dangerous going forward and doubled the lead in 15 minutes.

Sankarlal made a substitution with Gurjinder Singh replacing Ricky Lallawmawma in the 37th minute. Gurjinder made an instant impact as he delivered a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box from the left wing.

It begged a touch and Akram Moghrabi, having perfectly slid in, slammed the ball home as the Kolkata giants led 2-0 at half-time.

There was no late drama compared to the reverse fixture as Mohun Bagan ran out with all three points from Tilak Maidan.

The Kolkata giants are left with another outing in Goa as they'll face Churchill Brothers FC Goa in their penultimate fixture of I-League 2017-18 on March 3.

Source: AIFF Media