Kolkata: McDowell Mohun Bagan failed to deliver what was expected from them when they were held to a goalless draw by the bottom-placed Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in an I-League match at the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday, March 6. The result took Mohun Bagan to 40 points from 23 matches while HAL move to 8 points from 22 matches.

The HAL defenders need to be lauded the manner they marked Bagan’s talismanic striker Odafa Okolie. And once Odafa was marked, Bagan lost the plot. Even Brazilian midfielder Hudson Lima who made a comeback after an injury lay-off, couldn’t help Bagan’s cause.

Bagan, nevertheless, had the first chance of the match -- a Jewel Raja shot from a Jose Barretto pass sailed over in the 17th minute.

Changing over, HAL had a couple of half chances and Bagan tried to stem the rot bringing in NP Pradeep in place of AIFF Player-of-the-Year Sunil Chettri in the 61st mintue.

HAL missed a golden opportunity to surge ahead in the 64th minute as Rohit Chand missed form close. Bagan did go all out in the last 20 minutes but with Odafa not being allowed space by the rival defenders, the fate didn’t change.

By Indian Sports News Network