BENGALURU: Mohun Bagan have won their maiden I-League title, courtesy of their 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC in their final game of the 2014-15 season, at the Kanteerva Stadium, Bengaluru, Sunday.
John Johnson opened the scoring in the 41st minute before Bello Rasaq scored the equaliser in the 86th minute to break the hearts of the assembled Bengaluru fans.
Ashley Westwood chose to bench Sunil Chhetri and hand a chance to Udanta Singh to be a part of their three pronged attack alongside Sean Rooney and Robin Singh.
Sanjoy Sen roped in Dhanachandra Singh into the first team with Sukhen Dey bring left out.
Udanta’s pace was too much to deal for the Bagan defense as Kingshuk Debnath fouled the former on the edge of the box. However, Rooney’s left-footed effort went sailing over the bar in the third minute.
The 18-year-old Manipuri sent in an inch perfect cross from the right but the opportunity went begging as neither Rooney nor Robin were well placed to get to the end of it.
Dhanachandra Singh then created the first chance for the visitors as his cross from inside his own half saw Pierre Boya head it goalwards with Lalchuammawia Ralte collecting it in time.
The crossbar came to Bengaluru’s rescue in the 40th minute when Shankar Sampingiraj gave away the ball cheaply. Norde’s effort from the edge of the box had Ralte beaten all ends up but the shot came off the crossbar.
The breakthrough came in the 41st minute as John Johnson rose highest and buried his header from a Lyngdoh corner-kick into the far post to send the home fans into delirium.
Johnson ensured that the home side kept their lead intact as he made a goal-line clearance in the stoppage time. This was after Norde played a short pass for Yusa who squared it for Balwant who had the entire goal at his mercy. However, his team effort from close range was cleared by Johnson with Norde’s shot on the rebound being blocked.
Just four minutes after the break, Boya failed to hit the target as his shot went over the crossbar after Shouvik Chakraborty did well to carve open the home team’s defense.
At the other end, Norde cut inside from the left and slammed his effort which produced an important save from Ralte.
It took 82 minutes for Sen to make his first change he introduced Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of the listless Balwant Singh.
Ralte kept Bengaluru in the tie as he denied Dhanachandra from a Yusa corner-kick. In the following flag-kick by Norde, Bello Rasaq headed home to score the elusive equalizer in the 86th minute.
Bengaluru FC did string together a couple of attacks in the final minutes but Bagan held their fort together to earn a well deserved draw.
