Gokulam Kerala FC served a blow to Mohun Bagan’s title aspirations, holding the latter 2-2 in an I-League match here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.
Having suffered a 0-2 loss against traditional rival East Bengal barely three days ago, the draw against Gokulam took Bagan farther away from the chance of regaining the title.
Shilton D’Silva gave Mohun Bagan the lead in the first quarter, scoring in the 18th minute.
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The home side failed to preserve the lead for long as the visitor struck twice in a span of three minutes to secure a 2-1 lead by the 24th minute.
Own goal
An own-goal by Bagan defender Lalchhawnkima (21st) saw Gokulam restoring parity before Trinidad & Tobago forward Marcus Joseph put the visitor in the lead (24th). Cameroon forward Aser Dipanda Dicka scored at the hour-mark to level the issue for Mohun Bagan.
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The home team coach Khalid Jamil made three changes to the side that lost against East Bengal. D’Silva, one of them, brought in the reward for the host, finishing a corner taken by Sony Norde.
Right finish
Playing an open game, the two sides earned a few scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes. But the host found the right finish in the 18th minute when Norde curled his flag-kick right at the goalmouth for D’Silva to nod home.
Gokulam got back into the game quickly as Lalchhawnkima miscued an attempted clearance on a Bijesh Balan cross into an own goal in the 21st minute.
Joseph got at the end of a pass from Suhair V.P. minutes later minute and chipped over an onrushing Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul to put Gokulam ahead.
Bagan played with more purpose after the break and with the introduction of seasoned Mehtab Hossain in the central midfield in the 53rd minute, it found the goal route more frequently.
The host’s persistent efforts paid off in the 60th minute when Henry Kisseka set up Dicka with a lob to find the Gokulam net and the equaliser for Bagan.
The result: Mohun Bagan 2 (Shilton D’Silva 18, Aser Dipanda Dicka 60) drew with Gokulam Kerala FC 2 (Lalchhawnkima 21-og, Marcus Joseph 24).