Churchill hold Bagan

Kolkata, Feb 26: Runners-up Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan settled for a goalless draw in their 16th round I-league soccer match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here Saturday.
 With six of their regulars out due to injury and cards, Bagan put up a spirited display especially during the second half and could have romped home victorious but for their frontliners who failed to cash in on the chances they got.
 Churchill and Bagan both stayed put at the same third and sixth positions with 30 and 22 points respectively after completing 16 outings.
Bagan, who lost to Churchill 0-2 in the first leg of the league, started cautiously concentrating more on defence as the match began. Churchill made their first attack in the 3rd minute but Bagan keeper Shilton Paul foiled a Steven Dias attempt to forge ahead.
The Bagan defence played well to keep their fort intact. Sagram Mandi, who played as a defensive screen excelled and kept strict vigil on Odafa Okolie – the deadly Churchill striker who took the field in the second half but failed to cause any damage.
Bagan came close to scoring in the 38th minute, but striker Muritaala Ali failed to head a Snehasish cross in the 38th minute.
Bagan striker Muritala Ali wasted the easiest opportunity four minutes after the second half. He dodged past a host of Churchill defenders, including custodian Lalit Thapa, only to shoot feebly into the empty goal which gave enough time to Churchill defender Goaurmangi Singh to make a goalline save.
Churchill, who mostly defended their fort in the second half, earned a good opportunity in the 66th minute but Odafa shot out from inside the box .
Five minutes before the long whistle the home team came close to scoring again. But a stingy shot by Muritala off Chidi was smartly saved by Churchill keeper Lalit Thapa who dived full length to his right to keep their fort intact.