Mohun Bagan had to rely on Jose Barreto's brillance as they rallied to hold Haywards 2000 Sporting Clube to a 2-2 draw in an eighth National Football League match in Margao, Goa, on Sunday.
The Brazillian scored both the goals as Mohun Bagan salvaged a point in their sixth match of the league. They have 11 points while Sporting Clube have eight.
Both teams played an attacking game and created scoring opportunities as they matched each other. Barreto created panic in the rival defence whenever he moved upfront and gave his team a lead in the 12th minute when he shot home from the top of the box from a deflection which came to him via Leonard's shot.
But the Goans, who stretched their famed rivals in both halves, restored parity three minutes later when Dudu Omagbemi capitalised a defensive error when defender Sanjeev Maria and Rishi Kapur let go a cross from Francis Andrade and made no mistake in nodding home.
The Bagan defence looked jittery after conceding the goal and Dudu had a glorious chance to put his team ahead but he headed wide off a long lob by Vincent Pires. Then keeper Prasanta Dora made a save when he blocked a Jatin shot after Dudu set him up on the right.
The Hayward Sporting midfield played in unison as they kept their strikers busy and went ahead in the 32nd minute off a free-kick.
The free-kick was awarded when keeper Dora, who charged out to tackle Dudu, handled the ball outside the box and referee Mohan awarded the free-kick. Francis Andrade guided the ball into the goal to send the crowd into raptures.
After half-time, the Goans squandered a chance to increase the lead when Louis Aniwete missed the mark from close.
Mohun Bagan got the equaliser in the 54th minute, scoring with an angular shot after Ashim Biswas had done the spadework.
A little later, Louis came up with a spectacular save to deny Mohun Bagan the winner. The Sporting Clube goalkeeper leapt high to punch the ball over following a shot from Hardeep Gill, who had received a through pass from Barreto.
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