AI hold Bagan to 1-1 draw

Kolhapur, Jan 29 (PTI) Injury-hit Air India Mumbai heldKolkata''s Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw in the 12th round match ofthe I-league at Shahu Maharaj ground here today.

The airmen, languishing in the bottom half of the leaguetable, went on the attack from the beginning and took the leadthrough Manjit Singh at the fag end of the opening half whenhe took control of a throw-in and found the mark.

Stung by the reverse, Bagan fought back strongly in thesecond half and restored parity through Brazilian striker JoseBarretto who bulged the net in the 58th minute off a finecross from the right sent by D Dhanarajan.

AI, who took their points tally to 9, had gone into thematch with their confidence high following a shock 4-0 victoryover Goa''s defending champions Dempo SC.

Bagan, who took their tally to 18, also had their tailsup in the lead-up after winning their third straight encounteragainst India Arrows (formerly AIFF XI) 2-0 in the previousround.

Santosh Kashyap-coached AI were without defender UttamSingh due to a double booking. Goalkeeper Arup Debnath andstriker Alex Ambrose are injured and out of action for sixmonths.

Also on the injured list were medio Benoy Kuruvilla,defender Amritpal Singh, striker Allan Dias and Chanchal Saha.