Fancied Mohun Bagan held by Mumbai FC

TIL Desk Sports/Mumbai/ Fancied Mohun Bagan failed to close the gap on their traditional rivals East Bengal after being held to a goal-less draw by Mumbai FC, who scored their first point in seven matches, in the I-League here today.

At the end of the ninth round encounter at the Cooperage Ground, Mohun Bagan remained in second position with 18 points — still three points adrift of East Bengal but with an extra game in hand — while Mumbai FC were placed eighth having finally broken a six-game losing streak.

Both teams had few chances in the first half and even as the deadly duo of Darryl Duffy and Yusa Katsumi tried to look for opportunities, the hosts were left disappointed when Thoi Singh’s stunner from the right flank was ruled out by the referee in the 18th minute.

Having rested Jeje Lalpekhlua for the match, Mohun Bagan coach Sanjay Sen fielded Balwant Singh early in the second half, but it was Mumbai who came close to scoring after the break, through its new Brazilian import Alex Willian Silva, whose freekick in the 50th minute missed the rival post by a whisker.