Imphal: Neroca’s citadel broke loose in their penultimate match, one that perhaps may have crushed their title-aspirations as well. The ‘People’s Club’ were chasing their maiden I-League that too in their debut season but the 2-3 loss to Mohun Bagan in their final home match may have well dented their hopes.
The Manipur based club though remained on top but have played 17 games, the highest in the top-three. They stand on 31 points, just two ahead of Minerva Punjab on second who have played three less.
Dipanda Dicka netted a brace that took his tally to 11 goals this season, but it was Akram Moghrabi’s second I-League goal that fetched the winner, as Bagan came-out victorious despite falling behind twice.
Subhash Singh had put the hosts ahead after one of Kingshuk’s two defensive blunders both of which resulted in goals. Singh bossed over the Bagan captain before chipping the ball over a rushing Shilton Paul.
They hit one more in the 24th minute through Felix Chidi after another of Debnath’s folly and in between Dicka equalised twice.
Birthday boy Dicka scored the first from a penalty, one that he earned after goalkeeper Bishrojit brought him down. That was in the 21st minute and nine minutes later, the former Lajong man scored another. Latching onto a Cameron Watson through ball to complete his double.
Moghrabi then headed the visitors ahead for his after he was set-up by Yuta Kinowaki from a Nikhil kadam cross.
Dicka could have well earned his first hat-trick this season had he connected to a Moghrabi cross.
Sankarlal takes a dig at East Bengal
Happy with Bagan’s win after a shock defeat to Gokulam FC in their last home fixture, coach Sankarlal Chakraborty took a sly at East Bengal saying after 15 round of matches only three teams are playing good football.
“According to me, after 15 matches, only three teams are playing good football – Mohun Bagan, NEROCA and Minerva Punjab. Luck is a big factor. We would have been in a better position had luck favoured us,” said the former Air India player.
The Red and Golds just a day ago lost 1-2 to Gokulam Kerala, a defeat that jeopardised their maiden I-League title aspirations. East Bengal are on 26 points after 15 matches, five behind current leaders Neroca FC.