I-League: Mohun Bagan Fail To Win Against Air India

Air India started the match as the more adventurous side and started their raid on the Mohun Bagan citadel right from the first minute. They romped towards the Bagan defence and managed to eke out a few corners in the initial minutes but did not construct anything concrete.  

Air India midfielder Surojit Roy was the main source of danger for Mohun Bagan in the opening exchanges as his crosses seemed to send some concern into the Bagan backline. Air India had more possession and looked more attacking while Mohun Bagan relied on the swift counter-attack.  

Mohun Bagan’s left sided midfielder Ishfaq Ahmed put in a low drive in the 7th minute. This was Mohun Bagan’s first attack of any sort in the match. The Kolkata giants then gradually came back into the game and pushed the airmen further into their shell.  

Lalkamal Bhoumick’s long ranger in the 13th minute was saved by Air India goalkeeper Arup Debnath in what was Mohun Bagan’s first real chance. One minute later Lalwampuia had a good chance with another long-range effort after a brilliant move by the Mohun Bagan players that exposed the defensive frailties of Air India.  

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan’s star man Jose Ramirez Baretto was grooving into his form and was constructing distress in the Air India defence. He had a chance in the 24th minute and did ruffle some feathers in the Air India D-box but nothing concrete came out of it. By this time Air India had been pushed onto the backfoot and their defence was revealing cracks.  

Their goalkeeper Arup Debnath then pulled off an excellent save when he staved off an unexpected but vicious shot from Baretto on the half hour mark from the right side of the Air India penalty box.  

Air India did have their own chances though. A corner for them in the 34th minute created pell-mell in the Bagan area but the subsequent shot was blasted wide over the crossbar. Kailash Patil then hit the ball wide on a one-on-one situation in the 43rd minute to waste a quicksilver counter—attacking move initiated deep inside the Air India box after Mohun Bagan wasted a corner.  

Then much against the run of play, Air India took the lead on the stroke of half-time after an unmarked Soccor Velo poked the ball into the back of the Mohun Bagan net from a freekick on the left side of Bagan’s penalty area to gift his side a 1-0 lead.   Mohun Bagan started the second half trying to claw back into the match but somehow failed to show urgency. They didn’t have much pace and were initially restricted to long range efforts.  

Lalwampuia hit the ball over the crossbar in the 52nd minute and then Ishfaq took an attempt at goal with a venomous shot. Half-time substitute Mama then tried his luck on the hour mark but his free header went wide off the post.  

Although Air India were pushed deep into their own half, they grasped every counter-attacking opportunity that came along their path. Midfielder Surojit Roy took an aimless shot at Shilton Paul’s goal in the 65th minute.  

Although Mohun Bagan continued to press on in search of an equalizer, they were restricted mostly to half-chances and throw ins. But they were eventually rewarded in the 71st minute when Rakesh Mashi’s long clearance found Lalwampuia on the left wing whose exquisite cross was hit home by second half substitute Branco Cardozo.  

Mohn Bagan then went seeking the winner. They did press on but couldn’t really make any clear-cut chance for themselves in the remainder of the match. On the other hand, Air India played on the counter and went close in the 83rd minute when Michael Tayo’s header was tipped over the crossbar by Shilton Paul.  

So Mohun Bagan have to wait for some more time to register their first win of the season in the I-League while Air India must be dleighted to gain a point from this match.  

Subhankar Mondal