KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan SG first failed to protect the lead and then wasted two penalties before being held 1-1 by Calcutta Police in their CFL Premier Division match in Kalyani on Tuesday.
Having drawn thrice and lost once so far, Bagan suffered another blow to their Super Six hopes, managing just 6 points from 5 matches. Bhawanipore SC, who beat Peerless SC 3-0 in the day’s other match, are leading Group B with 16 points from 6 matches, followed by East Bengal FC (13 points from 5 matches) and Calcutta Police (13 points from 6 matches). The top 3 from the group will make the Super 6 or the championship round.
Suhail Bhat put Mohun Bagan in front in the 40th minute, heading home substitute Fardin Ali Molla’s corner.
Mohun Bagan could have killed the match as a contest when Deggie Cardozo’s side got two penalties in quick succession. Suhail earned the first one on the cusp of halftime when he was felled by Ranjit Sardar inside the box but Fardin Ali Molla’s resultant penalty was saved by goalkeeper Mohidul Kayal.
Bagan got their second penalty six minutes after the restart when referee Pratik Mondal judged Jishnu KS’s tackle from behind on Brijesh Giri illegal and pointed to the spot. However, Bagan captain Abhishek Suryawanshi blazed the ball over the bar.
Calcutta Police soon punished Bagan for their profligacy, Rabi Das beating Bagan goalkeeper Raja Barman with a precise and powerful right-footer from inside the D in the 56th minute
Both Calcutta Police and Bagan were reduced to 10 men when Sheikh Abdul Touhid and Suryawanshi received their marching orders following two yellow cards in stoppage time.
