Brilliant rally helps Bagan survive

By Our Sports Reporter

KOLKATA, MARCH 31. Defending champion Mohun Bagan accomplished a late resurgence to hold JCT Mills, Phagwara 2-2 in a 17th round match of the V National Football League here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

With defeat staring at its face the home team did well to erase a deficit of two goals against the rampaging millmen, who played a great first-session scoring both their goals. The drawn encounter had Mohun Bagan tallying 32 points from 17 matches while JCT netted 12 points from 17 matches. The Punjab team, trying to get over the arrears of a poor first-leg that saw the team losing six and drawing the rest five matches, had been able to regain some of the touch in the second leg of the tournament.

Apart from notching its first win of the tournament (against Mahindra United 1-0 in the 15th round), the Punjab team gave the league leader Kingfisher East Bengal a fright at the latter's home in the next round on Wednesday. The Kolkata giant had to struggle a lot before managing a 2-2 draw. And the outing against Mohun Bagan on Saturday spoke volumes about JCT's resolution and abilities as the Punjab men led 2-0 in the first session of the match.

Both the teams had to miss a few of their regulars owing to injuries, suspensions and national call-up. But the worst to be effected by this seemed to be the home team which looked a ordinary side against a fast playing opposition.

With its Brazilian striker Jose Barreto suspended collecting his second booking and the other forward R. C. Prakash joining the national camp, Mohun Bagan had to employ its bench strength in the attack. This seemed to compound the matters for the Kolkata team which could hardly create any pressure on the visitor in the initial session.

On the other hand JCT, getting over its initial tentativeness, was in the thick of action with its typical blend of speed and long passes. This bore its reward in the 27th minute when Sukhjeet Singh volleyed home a corner by Jaswant Singh to take his team into lead. Sukhjeet gave a good display of ability as a forward shielding his marker in Mohun Bagan stopper M. Suresh and created the space for a right-footed flick that bulged the opposition net. After Mohun Bagan had seen one of its forwards Amar Ganguly and midfielder Devjit Ghosh flounder on their turns at the opponent goal, JCT increased its margin in the 38th minute through Hardeep Gill.

Gill, one of the best shooters of the team, was brilliant with his long-ranger that saw the ball clear an advanced Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Rajat Ghosh, before settling in the net.

Mohun Bagan began the second session in the right earnest. With JCT playing defensive, the home team had to contend extra men in the opposition area. Mohun Bagan persisted with its thrusts and the floodgates were opened in the 56th minute when the home side earned a penalty. Lolendra Singh scored on the rebound after JCT custodian Arvind Kumar blocked his spot kick. The early goal heightened the resolution of the home side, which strove hard for the equaliser.

This took another 22 minutes to be realised as Arvind Kumar stood firm under the JCT bar blocking all the attempts at goal. James Singh ensured the equaliser in the 78th minute weaving into the JCT penalty area just to release Amar Ganguly who tapped home the provision. Ganguly was reached unmarked inside the JCT box within a minute of the equaliser but the winner for Mohun Bagan remained elusive as the forward squandered the opportunity shooting wide.

Mohun Bagan's striker Amar Ganguly dodging JCT goalkeeper Arvind Kumar in the National Football League match at Kolkata on Saturday.

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