I-League 2017/18, Match 86: Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan, 5 Talking Points

Mohun Bagan travelled to Goa for their penultimate league match of the season where they faced Churchill Brothers at the Tilak Maidan. Going into the match, Bagan still had an outside chance of winning the I-League title going into the match. Churchill, on the other hand, were fighting to stay in the top division.

In the end, Bagan managed to eke out a narrow 2-1 win, thanks to goals from Nikhil Kadam and Akram Moghrabi. Here are the things that stood out from the match:

#1 Churchill start the game with good intent

For Churchill, the equation was pretty simple. If they managed to secure three points, they will not be relegated. With just two league matches remaining, it was evident from the way the home team started off that they did not want to take it to the last match.

The Red Machines kept pressing right from the start and created huge problems for the Mohun Bagan defence during the initial parts of the match. Israil Gurung and Britto threatened the away defence time and again. However, despite all their best efforts, Churchill did not manage to get an opener.

#2 Monday Osagie had a goal disallowed

The referee gave a foul and disallowed the goal

While Churchill were the better team throughout the first half, they could not do the most important thing in football - score a goal. And, when they did manage to find a way through, the goal was disallowed.

Gurung, who was playing really well through the first halfm delivered an almost perfect ball into the box and Monday jumped the highest to power in a header. However, Francis had pushed Kingsley from behind inside Bagan's penalty box. Monday's celebrations were cut short as the referee signalled a foul for the off the ball incident.

#3 Nikhil Kadam scores opener

Nikihil Kadam celebrates his goal — Nikhil Kadam celebrates his goal

The two teams went into the breather with the score tied at 0-0. However, Bagan came out in the second half looking more determined. But, even as they pushed forward in search of an opener, no clear-cut chances were being created.

However, they were soon to be rewarded for their efforts. The ball was lobbed into the path of Dipanda Dicka who drew both the central defenders towards him, thus leaving acres of space for the onrushing Nikhil Kadam. Dicka made no mistake to find his teammate, who smashed the ball into the net with a terrific first-time left-footed shot.

#4 Churchill equalise through Monday

Churchill were taken aback by Bagan's spirited start in the second half and that was why they conceded the goal. However, they were never going to go down without a fight. As soon as Bagan got the opener, the Red Machines started prodding forward in numbers in the hunt of an equaliser.

With Pawan Kumar's introduction, Monday was able to play further up the pitch. A lovely ball from Cissey found Nicholas Fernandes in space down the left flank. Sensing an opportunity, the Nigerian defender barged into the box and all Fernandes had to do was find him with a cross. Monday completed the formalities with a tidy finish.

#5 Bagan keep title hopes alive through Akram Moghrabi

Bagan had to win the match to keep their faint title hopes alive, at least until next Thursday when Minerva Punjab will take on Churchill. With Monday equalising, their hopes were fast diminishing and they needed to respond almost immediately.

SK Faiaz took the onus on himself as he broke through the right flank before delivering a peach of a ball for Akram Moghrabi. Bagan's Lebanese forward, however, failed to connect properly and the ball was back in play. After a few seconds of patient build-up, Faiaz put in another terrific ball into the box and this time, Moghrabi made no mistake in heading the ball into the net.