The Hindu : Sport : Mohun Bagan holds Tampines Rovers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 07, 2007
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Mohun Bagan holds Tampines Rovers

Amitabha Das Sharma

VALIANT EFFORT: A diving Shilton Paul thwarts the visiting side's Alam Shah. — Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan held Singapore visitor Tampines Rovers to a goalless draw in the first match of the group F league in the AFC Cup here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday.

Mohun Bagan's new coach Chima Okerie had to field a clutch of youngsters as half of the regulars of the team could not play owing to injuries. The visitor was given a tough opposition by the home side, creating more scoring chances than its opponent.

Mohun Bagan next visits Malaysia to play Pahang FC on March 20.

The homeside's attack, with strikers Sushil Kumar Singh and Lalawmpuia — deputed in place of injured stars Baichung Bhutia and Jose Barreto — Bagan attacks died much before the striking zone.

A shuffling of roles appeared to restrict the mobility in the midfield. With the regular winger Mehtab Hussain pushed to the centre, Manas Das and Lalkamal Bhowmik struggled on the flanks.

Tampines did not look impressive either. Apart from managing an early opportunity that was headed over by striker Alam Shah, the visitor hardly made effective inroads. The Singapore side could not gain much initiative despite employing its full cast of foreigners — Brazilian Peres De Oliveira and Thai pair of Sutee Suksomit and Santi Chaiyaphuak — in the midfield. Bagan had only a partially fit Douglas Da Silva to fall upon.

Okerie utilised the stocky Brazilian as a defensive wall against big-sized attackers in the opposition ranks. This also fetched Douglas the man-of-the-match award in the end.

Mohun Bagan earned at least three clear chances in the second session but Rahul Kumar and Manas Das saw their attempts flying wide. Lalkamal Bhowmik, who had several abortive attempts to his credit, finally sought the target but his 70th minute attempt came off the crosspiece.

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