Mohun Bagan hold Bengaluru
Kolkata/Bangalore: Although they had their chances against hosts United SC, I-League debutants Rangdajied United FC went down 0-2 in their first match in India’s top tier of football in Kolkata on Sunday.
Cash-strapped United SC overcame all the off-field hardships as their committed players put up a well-knit effort for the win.
Ranti Martins (65th) gave the lead with a header, while ONGC recruit Eric Brown (75th) struck a stunner after a goalless first-half to give United Sports full points to start the season.
After their title sponsors disappeared in the Saradha financial scam, the Kolkata team failed to woo a new sponsor to put together the team.
But the players including high-profile Ranti and Dutch coach Eelco Schattorie remained with their club even though they had only 21 days of practice before the start of the season.
In the Shillong outfit, who qualified last season to become the third team from the North East to play in the I-League, the purple brigade faced a stiff challenge as both teams played out a goalless first half.
It was a slow start to the match as both teams opted to play out patiently in the first 45 minutes.
A cautious United SC relied on short passes without being too adventurous, even as the Shillong outfit looked to attack.
Rangdajied got the first shot at the target in the 16th minute when captain Eugeneson Lyngdoh took advantage of a defensive lapse for a low volley that was easily held on to by rival goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.
Five minutes later, United SC got a brilliant chance to go one-up when Tapan Maity’s corner was headed goalwards by Ranti, but was brilliantly saved by Rangdajied’s keeper Sujay Kumar Paryar.
On the rebound, CK Vineeth took a powerful shot, but it was Payar who averted an early mishap, even as the Kolkata club’s players protested that the ball had crossed the goalline, only to be ignored by the referee.
Minutes before the break, RUFC wasted a sitter when an unmarked Edmar Figueira missed the target with a wayward header.
The home side looked more penetrating in the second-half, resulting in a goal in the 65th minute when the ace Nigerian headed the ball home from an Eric freekick.
Ten minutes later, the Liberian Eric opened his account with a spectacular shot from the edge of the box.
Up 2-0, the Eelco’s team held the lead in the remaining 15 minutes for a winning start to their campaign.
Ranti and Eric combined well up front while, in the midfield, Man-of-the-Match Lalkama Bhowmick and K Asif played a crucial role.
Meanwhile, in Bangalore, Mohun Bagan denied Bengaluru FC a winning start with an injury time equaliser to force a 1-1 draw in their I-League match at the decked-up Bangalore Football Stadium.
Bengaluru led 1-0 on a 50th minute goal by Australian import Sean Rooney and looked well on way to making a winning debut before 22-year old Satyan Sabeeth found the net for Bagan in the first minute of injury time as the teams split points.
BFC coach Ashley Westwood threw a curve ball when he started the game without skipper Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, opting for Beikhokhei Beingaichho to partner Rooney up front, but the hosts made their intentions clear by going all out on attack.
Bagan defence had a trying time, but managed to scramble the ball to safety each time BFC entered the danger zone.
The teams thus went into the break on an even keel and on resumption, Rooney scored BFC’s maiden goal after being put through by Vishal Kumar.
Heartened by the success, BFC pressed on and had a great chance to double their score when a penalty was awarded after Keegan was fouled by Nigerian Celestine Anyichie, but Rooney failed to beat an agile Nandy from the spot.
Thereafter, BFC, with Chhetri coming off the bench, had a few scoring opportunities, but wasted them, as did Bagan with Yusa coming close only to see his shot bounce off the upright.
The hosts paid the price for the lapses as Sabeeth found the net with a header off a corner kick, just seconds before close as a relieved Bagan turned a certain defeat into an honourable draw. (Agencies)