HERO I LEAGUE INDIA - NEWS

I-League: Mohun Bagan 3-3 DSK Shivajians: Dipanda, Quero stem Bagan’s title charge

Sanjoy Sen’s are now winless in their last four matches in the I-League, a run which could cost them the title…

Mohun Bagan suffered a massive blow in their title defense as they were held to a 3-3 draw by DSK Shivajians in what was one of the most thrilling contests in the I-League this season. Cornell Glen put the home side into the lead before Juan Quero scored a couple. Sony Norde marked his comeback with a goal while Glen added another before the end of the first half. Aser Dipanda once again played the role of a spoilsport, as he did against Bengaluru FC, by scoring the crucial equalize in the second half to split the points.

Mohun Bagan made as many as three changes to the team which drew in Shillong. Jeje Lalpekhlua was dropped to the bench in favour of Under-22 player Azharuddin Mallick. Pritam Kotal and Kinshuk Debnath were benched following their errors last week in favour of Prabir Das and Sanjay Balmuchu.

Derrick Pereira opted to field the same team which picked a point at home to Bengaluru FC.

Bagan started on the front foot and could have taken the lead in the very first minute. Glen got on the end of a long ball and lobbed into the box which was cleared by Jhingan but only as far as Katsumi Yusa. However, Sen Ralte was back in time to clear the danger.

Glen had another chance in the seventh minute but Haroon Amiri’s timely tackle saw the former fumble in front of goal and his eventual shot went wide.

Bagan appealed for a penalty in the 21st minute when Glen was allegedly pulled down inside the box by Jhingan.

Five minutes later, the home side went ahead through Glen. Substitute Jeje’s shot from the edge of the box was parried by Subrata Paul before Glen slotted the ball in on the rebound.

In the 28th minute Bagan should have been 2-0 ahead but for Paul’s brilliant save to deny Norde’s peach of a shot from the left.

Bagan’s lead didn’t last long as Juan Quero was fed through the middle by Douhou Pierre and the Spaniard made no mistake in beating Debjit Majumder in goal.

DSK nudged ahead in the 34th minute as Quero ran down the left and his diagonal shot went into the net as Majumder failed to judge the velocity of the ball.

Node turned on style a few minutes later as he eased past three defenders and his right footed effort was deposited into the left corner to make it 2-2.

Glen completed his brace in the 45th minute as he got the better of Zohmingliana Ralte and Jhingan to slot the ball home as Bagan lead 3-2 at half-time.