I-League Media Team

KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan extended their lead at the top of the table despite not playing their best brand of football, as the match between the Mariners and Shillong Lajong ended 0-0 at Barasat on Wednesday evening.

Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen changed his central midfield combination with Sehnaj Singh and Lalkamal Bhowmick starting at the center of the park. Balwant Singh also came back to the first team at the expense of Jeje Lalpekhlua.

On the other hand, Thangboi Singto included all four of his foreign players in the first XI with Seminlen Doungel also starting upfront.

The away side had the first clear-cut chance of the evening in the 20th minute. Z. Ralte had sent in a cross from the left wing was received well by Doungel inside the box. He gave an intelligent touch on the ball to lay it on the path of onrushing Cornel Glen, but the striker’s powerful volley was thwarted by a diving Debjit Majumder.

The Mohun Bagan custodian was in the thick of things again just after the half-hour mark. Doungel had nutmegged Anwar Ali and glided past Bello Rasaq to go one on one with the shot-stopper, but Debjit narrowed down the angle to block his from close range.

The teams went into the break with the scoreline reading 0-0.

After the break, Katsumi fed Boya with a great ball in the Lajong territory, but a moment of indecision from the marquee player played spoilsport. Boya then sent in a good ball for Balwant, but the India international’s effort was off-target.

In the 48th minute, Sony Norde got hold of the ball in a dangerous position, courtesy a lazy clearance by Aibor Khongjee. He ran a few yards and decided to try to luck from distance, but the shot was straight at Rehnesh between the sticks.

Lalkamal Bhowmick injured his head in a clash with Uilliams Bomfin and had to be stretchered off just after the hour mark.

Bello Rasaq and Minchol Son both stood tall in the defense, parrying away the long balls played by both the teams.

Sony Norde, the Mohun Bagan attacker, beautifully curled a free-kick in the 74th minute, but was unlucky to see his effort being denied by the horizontal framework.

A few minutes later, Doungel missed another golden opportunity after being fed with a sublime through ball from Cornel Glen.

With this result, Mohun Bagan are still on the top of the table, while Lajong surpassed Bharat FC, who will be playing the second match of the day.