Kolkata: Last season’s top scorer Dipanada Dicka’s 27th minute penalty may have lighted the historic occasion of football’s return to Maidan but it was Arrows’ bravery over the Mariners’ experience that had the final laugh as Mohun Bagan succumbed to a third straight draw at home.
Playing in front of 15000 odd fans that rooted against them throughout the 90 minutes, it was the young Indian Arrows comprising of U-17 and U-19 stars that came out victorious mentally depite playing most of the second half with 10 men.
Already on a yellow card after shoving Nikhil Kadam from behind, captain Amarjit Singh Kiyam was shown a red in the 65th minute when he stepped into Kingsley’s shoes. But Arrows held on defending deep to eventually cap off a vital point against the oldest team of the I-League.
Earlier, it was Bagan who started better, attacking right from the whistle. Ariel balls and physicality was Sanjoy Sen’s tactic to counter an agile and pacy Arrows and while the long balls decision backfired, pace defeated an aging Bagan defence that failed to keep up with Rahim Ali, the Mariners’ own home product.
The pacy forward who can also play in the wings latched onto a ball from Sanjeev Stalin followed by a speedy run that caught Bagan captain Kingshuk Debnath napping before laying a wonderful low ball for Rahul Kannoly, who made no mistake to score his second goal in as many matches.
It was the Mariners however who dictated the proceedings and eventually went forward in the 27th minute after Dicka scored from the spot. Nikhil Kadam who was Bagan’s only brilliance in the pitch made some wonderful runs across both the channels but was let down by both Kromah and Dicka, guilty of missing some easy headers.
Replacing his injured captain Sony Norde into the starting line-up, it was the 23-year-old who earned the penalty after Arrows defender Asish Rai made a reckless challenge in the box.
Kromah in particular was guilty of squandering two easy chances to score. The first being an easy header, while the another in the 42nd minute was a beautiful high ball from Shilton, which had the Nigerian alone in goal. His poor header was however brilliantly saved by a diving Dheeraj Singh.
Arrows’ game on the contrary was much better as they scored with their only chance in the entire match and held on with 10 men despite being pushed deep by a rigorous Bagan.
Mohun Bagan nonetheless remained unbeaten but will consider two points loss. They moved up a notch to fourth with 10 points from six outings and will next play Chennai City at the same venue.
Arrows meanwhile moved up to sixth with seven points and next face another Kolkata giants East Bengal at home.