Sporting Club hold Mohan Bagan to goal-less draw

Margao, Mar 10 (UNI) Former champions Mohan Bagan squandered few scoring opportunites and had to rest content with a goalless draw against Sporting Club de Goa in the ONGC National Football League championship at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, here today.

It was a tale of missed chances for both the teams in both the halves but Bagan held a slight edge.

During the first 25 minutes, the visitors were more with the ball and tried hard to find their bearing. But later, Sporting Club took charge and came up with a good move in the 30th minute when Joe Rodrigues unleashed a shot which, however, touched a rival defender and went wide.

Two minutes later, Sporting had another chance from the flag kick taken by Nicholas Rodrigues, but Dudu Omaghbhemi did not have a clear look at the goal and his shot went over the bar.

A minute before the breather, Bagan's Lalabuia collected a pass from Dulal Biswas and unleashed a shot which was smartly saved by Sporting goalkeeper Luis Barreto. In the injury minute of the first half, Dulal Biswas's well-attempted long-range shot missed the target narrowly.

The second half too did not witness any penetrating moves from both the sides. In the 54th minute, the 20-yard shot by Sporting's Harmanjot Khabra sailed over the bar.

The visitors had a chance to move ahead in the 69th minute but rival goalkeeper Barreto palmed away a powerful 30-yard shot attempted by Duglas D'Silva.

Mohan Bagan attacks, thereafter, were thwarted by Sporting Club defenders Mathew Gomes, Felip Gomes and Samananda Singh.

After today's drawn match, Sporting took their points tally to nine from eight outings and remained at the sixth place. Mohan Bagan increased their tally to eight from an equal number of matches.

Mohan Bagan defender Deepak Mondal was adjdudged the ''man of the match'' for his fine performance.

UNI