Bagan settle for draw against Mumbai FC, maintain top position

Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Mumbai FC in an I-League football tournament encounter, here today.
While Reisangmi Vashum put the home team in the lead after the change of ends in the 49th minute, Dhanachandra Singh's 76th minute strike restored parity as the green and maroon brigade didn't exactly have a great day in office.
However a point from the encounter did help them maintain their top position in the league with 32 points from 15 games.
Mumbai FC moved upto seventh position with 17 points from as many games.
There wasn't much home to write about the performance about the green anad maroon brigade who were expected to win the match. However ultra-defensive tecghnique employed by Mumbai FC, who were dependant on sporadic counter-attacks did play a role in Bagan losing their bearings.

Sanjoy Sen's boys didn't have a plan B after Pritam Kotal and Manish Bharghav both had off-day. Sony Norde lacked the support on the wide end while Japanese Katsumi Yusa also didn't fire in the first 45 minutes.

Bagan conceded a goal when Jayesh Rane's inswinging corner was headed home by an unmarked Vashum. While custodian Debjit Majumdar can be partly blamed for coming out of his charge late, the trio of Kotal, Bello Rasaq and Anwar Alididn't mark Vashum for whom it was a free header.
However, it was another set-piece movement that enabled Bagan to draw level.
Bagan's premier player Norde took a corner which opposition goalie Sanjiban Ghosh completely misjidged the flight. Dhanachandra Singh lurking at the far post received the assist and then coolly stabbed home to ensure a point for two-time national league champions.