Vasco: Bagan’s hopes for their second I-League title in four years remained intact with a hard fought 2-1 win over Churchill Brothers. But the Red Machines edged closer to relegation with just one game remaining.
The game pumped to life after a barren first-half with both the teams scoring within 22 minutes of each other. Nikhil Kadam gave Mohun Bagan the lead in the 54th minute but Osagie Monday levelled terms in the 74th, only for Akram Moghrabi to put the Mariners ahead two minutes later.
Churchill however will rue their missed chances and the disallowed goal, one that could have helped them atleast notch a point. They remain on ninth with 17 points from the same number of games and are at the cusp of being relegated.
It left coach Alfred Fernandes fuming with anger at the match referee for what what he thought was a clear legitimate goal. “I can give video evidence,” he said at the post-match conference.
“We have literally been murdered by the referees. There is a lot to be desired from the refereeing. It was not off-side, there was no infringement. If a legitimate goal is disallowed, I don’t know how we are supposed to score,” added a distraught Fernandes.
The goal had come in the 33rd minute after Monday headed home a Israil Gurung cross from the left. But referee On Prakash Thakur called for a foul on Eze Kingsley as Onyeama Frincis pushed the Nigerian, while going up for the header.
The defeat also meant Churchill’s final match, an away fixture to Minerva Punjab now have become a do-or-die for both the teams, when they square off on March 8. While Minerva chase their maiden league title and are in a must-win situation, the ‘Red Machines’ require a victory to survive in the top-division.
“Now it’s the (Minerva) Punjab match which is a do or die game for us. Even a draw is not sufficient. We have to go out and take your chances,” said Fernandes.
Churchill looked the better team in the opening 45 minutes and the former Goa coach lamented his side’s missed chances, that could have sealed the game for them. “We were very confident of this match,” he said and “Could have finished the game in the first half. We created a lot of chances but could not convert. They (Mohun Bagan) got three chances and converted two. So that is the end result.”
Bagan stay in the hunt
Meanwhile the Mariners now have 30 points after 17 games and are third in the 10-team table. They next play Gokulam Kerala in Kozhikode and a win there can certainly give them a chance to dream — although very slim.
Gokulam’s recent form will however keep Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty worried. In their last seven matches, the Malabarians have won four and drew one. Three of them were consecutive victories and came against Bagan, East Bengal and Minerva Punjab.
“They have spoiled the party not only for Mohun Bagan, but for Minerva (Punjab) and East Bengal also. Gokulam defeated us in our home match which means that they have quality. We have a very tough match coming for us,” concluded Chakraborty.