I League NEROCA FC go down 2-3 to Mohun Bagan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2018: Local favourites, NEROCA FC had another disappointing home tie against Mohun Bagan as the latter wrapped the game 3-2 after a compelling I League match at Khuman Lampak.

NEROCA took off the game cautiously as they had two matches in their hands including today's match.

They required full points in these matches so as to keep their title dream intact but conceded to leave themselves in the lurch.

It was Subash Singam who opened up in the 16th minute and gave the home team a deserving 1-0 lead.

Subash who made a fine intercepted neatly controlled the ball and brought it close enough from the right flank before unleashing a power packed shot past the rival's custodian.

Four minutes latter, Mohun Bagan who were trying hard to restore parity got a golden chance in the form of spot kick following a foul in the box which was well taken by Aser Dipanda locking the score at 1-1 .

The parity did not last long as Felix Chidi added another goal in the 24th minute and gave the home team the lead again.

Stung by the lead, the visitors threw more men in NEROCA's half and started taking control of the game.

They succeed in equalising the score in the 31st minute when Cameron Watson's pass was well executed by Aser Dipanda.

The disappointment started with this equaliser as the goal was quite controversial and NEROCA's appeal for offside was turned down by the centre referee.

The decision also left many fans in and out of the stadium saddened and disheartened.

Captain of the home team Varney K Kallon was yellow carded the next minute for speaking against the referee's decision.

The latter part of the half saw a tense fight between the two teams and it was the Yuta Kinowaki's header just before the half time that handed visitors the 3-2 lead.

Overall the visitors dominated the first half though both teams had equal number of on goal shots.

After the restart, the home team were in full control of the game looking for the opening which they squandered a multiple times while the visitors were in defensive mode and attacked more in the counter.

The home team failed to equalised till the final whistle giving away full points to the visitors.

The local side will meet one of the title contender, East Bengal on February 27 in their last league match of the season.

NEROCA FC's fate in this league now lies completely in the performance of other teams.

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