Mohan Bagan wins, Salgaocar held

Chennai, Kolkata:

Nigerian striker George Ekeh showed opportunism against run of play to help Mohan Bagan score a 1-0 win over local outfit Indian Bank in their first match of the second phase of the Oil PSU National Football league in Chennai today. Indian Bank, having lost their three previous outings, looked to be making amends with their superb display of football and the Sri Lankan recruit K N Jayasuriya, was the pick of the lot. The Bankmen were superior in creating chances. Time and again, Jayasuriya and Stanley Festus, the Nigerian striker, worked in tandem and the former almost scored on three occasions. Twice the Bagan goal keeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar showed good reflexes to prevent the ball from entering his netting, and third time his powerful right footer hit the cross piece. On the other hand, the visitors found difficulties in settling down and the Bank defence also marked Bagan strikers effectively. Crossing over, the Bankmen continued to enjoy supremacy but failed to score. After Jayasuriya's tailormade cross from the right went abegging - with both Amal Raj and Mohd Qizar missing to connect and Stanley Festus missing a sitter with only Dastidar to be beaten - Bagan's Ekeh proved he is the best in the business of scoring. Salgaocar held 1-1 Salgaocar Sports Club paid for their poor finishing to end up with a 1-1 draw against a desperate Tollygunge Agragam in Kolkata today. The Goan outfit, which notched a convincing victory against title holders Mohun Bagan in last exchange, dominated the proceedings throughout the game, but were done in by some resolute defending by the hosts at the Salt Lake Stadium. The locals, busy thwarting Salgaocar attack for most part, took lead in the very first minute when Ashim Biswas, fed by a measured pass from Sandip Das, slotted home with a grounder past Salgaocar goalie Juje Siddi. Shocked at the early reversal, Salgaocar pressed the attack button and almost reduced the game to a one-sided affair. After a number of unsuccessful attempts, the visitors finally restored parity in the 41st minute when Liberian striker Sunday Seah headed home from close a Covan Lawrence centre from the right. With the draw, Salgaocar remained at the second spot in the league table with 23 points from 12 outings. Tollygunge, who earned full points in last match against ITI, have tallied 14 points from 12 matches. (PTI)