Round 12 of the Airtel I-League did not go much in favour for the Kolkata Clubs, as none of the four managed to garner a win in this round. While United SC and Mohammedan Sporting had to be content after securing a draw each, luck did not favour Kolkata giants McDowell Mohun Bagan and Kingfisher East Bengal, as they were defeated in their respective games.
Meghalaya outfit Rangdajied United were the show-stoppers of this Round, as they earned their first win of the season. The win came at the Salt Lake Stadium, where they beat Mohun Bagan by 2 goals, and conceded none.
Karim Bencherifa’s men already seemed to be low on confidence after the Derby loss against rivals East Bengal on November 24. The loss took their winless streak this season to 5 games, and they have garnered 11 points, out of the same number of games.
Airtel I-League debutantes Bengaluru FC also climbed to the top of the table, following a 2 – 1 win against Shillong Lajong FC on Sunday, December 1. Inspirational India National Team skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a brace in the game, in the 7th minute and the 34th minute respectively, to help his side get the win.
The former Kansas City Wizards goal-poacher now has four goals this season, and is tied with Churchill Brothers striker Balwant Singh, who is also the topscorer from India at present.
Ashley Westwood’s men have 21 points from 11 games at the moment, and the team have left Pune FC (2nd) and Salgaocar FC (3rd) behind, who have 19 points and 18 points respectively.
Sporting Clube de Goa also reached the 18-point mark, and are currently fourth in the table, following their 1 – 0 away win against Salgaocar at the Duler Stadium on Sunday. Nigerian schemer Kalu Ogba scored the solitary goal for the Flaming Oranje in the 24th minute, after his penalty was saved by India custodian Karanjit Singh, in the 10th minute.
In the other matches of the Round, Mumbai FC earned a remarkable 3 -2 win at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune on Monday, December 2, against Kingfisher East Bengal. The Home team broke the defence of the Kolkata giants, that looked more or less, shabby, in comparison to their previous performances.
While East Bengal did get their last hope owing to a brilliant header by Japanese sensation Ryuji Sueoka in the 87th minute that made the score 3 – 2, Armando Colaco’s men could not save the day as the score remained that, following 90 minutes + added time.
It was the former Dempo gaffer’s first loss with the Kolkatan outfit. He has now won, lost and drawn a game each with East Bengal this Season.
The Round also saw Mohammedan Sporting locked in a goalless stalemate with Dempo at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday, November 1, and Pune FC were held 1 – 1 at Home by United SC on Sunday.
