Mariners held to a goalless draw by HAL

7-Apr, 2012

McDowell Mohun Bagan was held to a goalless draw by HAL today in an I league match played in Salt Lake Stadium. After a brilliant match against league leaders Dempo, today Mariners played uninspired and lacklustre football and failed to beat a team who will in all probability be relegated to the 2nd division.

McDowell Mohun Bagan played today's match in the same formation like the last match with Sunil Chhetri operating from a little deep behind Jose Barreto and Odafa Okolie. Jewel Raja played as defensive medio while Hudson Lima and Ashim Biswas operated down the flanks. The defence lineup consisted of Surkumar Singh and Rahim Nabi as the two sidebacks while Kingshuk Debnath and Rakesh Masih played as the 2 stopper backs.

Mariners earned 3 corners within the first 10 minutes but failed to capitalize those.

Sunil Chhetri missed a chance to score in the 16th minute. From Jose Barreto's pass, Rahim Nabi sent a cross from the left side but Sunil failed to keep his head down. Jose Barreto was once again in the thick of action but Jewel's shot from his pass went out. Minutes later, Odafa Okolie gave a brilliant through pass towards Barreto, but he was a bit slow to reach to the ball.

Shilton Paul made a brilliant save in the 25th minute.

Mariners continued to attack and Sunil Chhetri setup a nice movement as he released the ball towards Odafa in the right side. The ball came back to Sunil via Nabi, but Sunil's powerful shot from edge of the box sailed over the crossbar.

Odafa nicely got past 2 players before unleashing a shot but unluckily for Mariners it went straight to the goalkeeper, who fisted the ball out.





Mariners got a free kick when Odafa was pulled from behind outside HAL penalty box. HAL goalkeeper, Pramod, cleared the ball from Sunil's free kick and it went towards Kingshuk whose attempted left footed shot ballooned up in the air and Odafa's header went out.

Mariners made the 1st change in the 37th minute when Manish Bharghav replaced Ashim Biswas. In the very next minute, Manish made his intentions clear as he made a good run down the right flank and his cross deflected out for corner, but goalkeeper had no problem to clear the ball from the resultant corner.

Manish Bharghav's cross from the right flank seemed to hit the hand of a HAL defender inside the opponent box, but referee gave free kick to Mariners. Sunil Chhetri's free kick was headed out by HAL defence.





In the injury time of the 1st half, Jose Barreto attempted a side volley from Rahim Nabi's cross but it got blocked by HAL defence. Jewel Raja attempted a shot but was fouled inches outside HAL penalty box. However, Jose Barreto's extremely disappointing free kick hit the wall.

After the lemon break, Mariners were lucky not to concede a goal as Jewel's back pass found HAL striker Hamza Amaba at edge of the Mariners box, but his hurriedly taken shot went out.





A couple of minutes later, from Odafa's pass, Jose Barreto sent a poor cross from the right flank as Pramod had no problem to collect the ball.

Sunil Chhetri was replaced by N. P. Pradeep in the 62nd minute.

Manish Bharghav took a nice right footed shot which was saved by goalkeeper, the rebound ball came to Barreto, but once more he was a bit slow to react, and HAL defence cleared the ball.





Manish Bharghav missed a chance in the 77th minute. Odafa released the ball towards Manish Bharghav whose right footed shot went out.

Jose Barreto sent a good cross from the right flank which foxed the goalkeeper but no McDowell Mohun Bagan player was in position to put the ball inside goal.

Odafa's header from Jewel Raja's corner once again went over the target.

In the fag end of the match, Odafa's powerful right footed shot was saved by Pramod. From the resultant corner, Jewel's header was cleared from the goalline.

McDowell Mohun Bagan will next play against Shillong Lajong on the 10th of April in Salt Lake Stadium.

View Match Photos