I-League: Salgaocar play 1-1 draw with Mohun Bagan

Margao: Salgaocar Sports Club staged a second half recovery to hold Mohun Bagan 1-1 in the 25th round I-league clash at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Saturday.

Bagan seemed to be cruising comfortably with a solitary goal lead at the breather from Nigerian striker Odafe Okolie but Salgaocar stunned the visitors with Ishfaq Ahmed’s goal a minute after resumption.

The win helped Mohun Bagan move to the second spot with 44 points but with just a match in hand, their position is under increasing threat. Salgaocar have 40 points in their kitty and their chances of a top three finish seems to be diminishing.

Bagan started confidently and with Odafe partnering Jose Ramirez Barreto upfront – and Sunil Chhetri relegated to a midfield role – there was constant danger. Odafe, as has always been the case, was the most dangerous and it was no surprise that he put Bagan ahead in the 24th minute. Odafe received a through ball from Syed Rahim Nabi and then bamboozled four defenders, showed remarkable composure and slammed the ball past a hapless looking Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh.

Bagan could have gone up further but Odafe’s powerful shot from close range rattled the upright and just a few seconds before the change of ends, Sunil Chhetri, left all alone with the goalkeeper, saw the ball roll past the side post.

The second session was all about Salgaocar as the defending champions struck back with vengeance. They scored the equalizer in the 46th minute when French midfielder Maxime Belouet’s overhead ball was well controlled by Ishfaq and then converted with remarkable ease.

Salgaocar then had a couple of chances as Bagan backtracked, but Ishfaq shot wide and Francis Fernandes lacked direction.