I-League: Ten-man Mohun Bagan held by Shillong Lajong

KOLKATA: Ten-man Mohun Bagan, saddled by a raft of injuries, had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Shillong Lajong in an I-League encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Thursday.

Both goals came from penalties as Dipanda Dicka (12th minute) gave Mohun Bagan the lead early on in the first half only to see his strike cancelled out by Samuel Lalmuanpuia (72nd) in the second period. 

The home team were down to ten men minutes later when Kolkata Derby's scorer Kingsley Eze was sent off for a second yellow card.

The result saw Mohun Bagan hold on to the second spot with eight points from four matches. They are two points behind league leaders Minerva Punjab FC who have also played four matches.

Lajong meanwhile, are at the third position with seven points from four games.

A host of injuries picked up in their last game against Churchill Brothers meant the likes of Sony Norde, Yuta Kinowaki, Ansumana Kromah and Arijit Bagui could not start for Mohun Bagan with Naro Hari Srestha and Dipendu Dowary pairing up front.

The hosts' hopes rested on Dicka and the former Lajong striker delivered from the spot after Sheikh Faiaz was brought down inside the box by Rakesh Pradhan.

Dicka chose not to celebrate and dedicated the goal to his indisposed Japanese teammate Kinowaki by showing his jersey to the fans.

Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul, in good form lately, pulled off a good save to deny Samuel Lalmuanpuia minutes after the goal.

Mohun Bagan bossed the game despite the spate of injuries as the visitors lacked the cutting edge up front to trouble their rival defenders.

Dowary came close to doubling the margin at the half-hour mark with a left-footed volley that fizzed just wide. At halftime, Mohun Bagan led by a solitary goal.

Post the breather, Aiman Saleh Abdullah Al-Hagri, who had played well throughout, was tripped inside the box by seasoned Mohun Bagan defender Kingshuk Debnath and Samuel made no mistake from the spot.

Things turned worse for the green and maroons when Eze committed a rather unnecessary foul on Lalmuanpuia and was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

Down to ten men and without the services of the influential Norde and in form-Kromah, Mohun Bagan struggled.

Mohun Bagan went all out in the final minutes, but to no avail.