KOLKATA:: Mohammedan Sporting (MDSP) finished on top of Group A in the ongoing Durand Cup-2022 after playing a 1-1 draw with Bangalore FC (BFC) in a match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), here on Friday. Pritam Singh gave MDSP an early lead in the first half, but Siva Sakthi overcame it in the extra time of the second half. Both teams had already qualified for the knockout stages and the result meant that MDSP would face the Kerala Blasters in their quarter-finals while BFC would go up against Odisha FC in theirs.
The teams were ready for it as they got off to a good start in both attack and defence. In the 12th minute of play, after Zothanmawia had punched away Javi's free-kick, the Blues had their first meaningful opportunity to score when Jovanovic's rebounded header narrowly missed the target and glanced off the top of the net.
MDSP obtained the opening one minute later. It was the culmination of some fantastic team moves that started from the opening that Prabir Das' constant overlapping left. Beginning it, Faslu ran and discovered Abhash Thapa in the empty space on his left. Racing in, the midfielder gave Sk a cutback. Rushing in, Faisal used his left foot to make the initial strike. First to seize the rebound from BFC goalkeeper Lara and score from close range was Pritam Singh.
BFC was angry about the result and reacted fiercely, but MDSP was following a strategy, and the left-side attacks, led by players like Abhishek Ambekar, Faslu, Abhash Thapa, and Abhishek Halder, were keeping the BFC squad on its toes. In the 27th minute of play, Zuidika received the game's first caution for a hard tackle. It was going to be the start of a string of events. MDSP had a one-goal advantage going into halftime and had played better during the opening 45 minutes.
At the half, BFC coach Grayson substituted Leon Augustine for Javi. That quickened the attack and the left wing. In the 47th minute, Prabir caught a loose ball with an incredible right-footed shot from about 30 yards out, forcing Mawia to make another strong save to stop him. The MDSP goalkeeper played quite well.
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