Dicka's 70th minute strike hand Mohun Bagan 1-0 win
Srinagar: Former champions Mohun Bagan rode on a second half Dipanda Dicka strike to eke out a close 1-0 win over debutants Real Kashmir FC and register their second win of the Hero I-League here on Tuesday.
The win takes the Mariners to second spot in the 12th Hero I-League standings with eight points from four games.
Real Kashmir, on the other hand, suffered their second defeat on the trot at home, keeping them on four points from a similar number of games and down to eighth place.
Both the coaches used the opportunity to give first starts of the season to a few players, arguably to test them out before it comes to the business end of the league.
David Robertson of Kashmir handed first starts to as many as three players, Khalid Qayoom and Abhash Thapa in midfield and defence in place of Farhan Ganie and Brian Mascarenhas as well as playing Nagen Tamang as an extra midfielder in place of defender Muhammad Hammad.
Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty opted for just one change, giving defender Dalraj Singh a start in place of Kim Kima.
The game began on a fast-paced, attacking note but in spite of a lot of energy and commitment shown by both the sides, there were no clear-cut chances created in the first 40 minutes of the game.
The Kolkata giants, in particular, seemed to be finding it difficult coming to terms with the cold conditions and the pitch despite enjoying more possession.
It was the hosts which created the first chance of the half when Tamang's free-kick in the 18th minute saw Scottish defender Mason Robertson meet the ball first with his head, but the timing of the connection made the ball lob over the Bagan goal.
Bagan then got their first chance in the 43rd minute, when Danish Farooq brought Cameroonian Dicka down in a dangerous position outside the Kashmir box. Ugandan Henry Kisseka's effort from the set piece missed the goal by a whisker.
The second half witnessed a more frantic start and Kashmir, in particular, began with a lot more purpose.
