Mumbai FC with 9 points from 6 games remain in fourth position while champions Bagan with 11 points from 5 games stay in third place behind leaders Bengaluru FC (15 points) and East Bengal (14 points).
Mumbai FC fought out a drab goalless draw against defending champions Mohun Bagan in their I-League clash at the Cooperage Stadium on Wednesday.
There was not much of constructive play from either team in the first half. Mumbai FC, starting with NP Pradeep who came into the team and was given the added responsibility of stand-in captain in place of the injured Taisuke Matsugae, played at a slow pace and was content holding on to ball possession and denying the Kolkata outfit from trying to force the pace.
Pradeep along with Izumi Arata and Eric Brown were not creative and instead worked in tandem with the defenders and did well to keep the ball away from the rival attackers.
In the 15th minute Brown, with a scorching 35-yard free-kick, tested the Bagan goalkeeper Debjit Majumdar, but the latter was equal to the attempt, diving to his left to fist the ball away. A further 13 minutes later, Mumbai FC goalkeeper Pawan Kumar made a fantastic save off Jeje Lalpekhula's snap try from the edge of the box. Pawan Kumar once again made a great save essay pushing away Sony Norde's curling free-kick in stoppage time of the first half.
The complexion of the match changed in the second half with Bagan finding their rhythm as captain Katsumi Yusa made some darting runs down the right flank and had Mumbai FC's left wing back chasing his shadow. In the 68th minute Yusa worked his way down right channel and after getting past Allan Dias he sent a low cross for Norde who did well to meet the pass, but his on the run attempt crashed into the near post much to the relief the Mumbai FC camp. Later from a swift counter Norde created a chance for Yusa, but he could only manage a feeble shot straight into the hand of goalkeeper Kumar in the 82nd minute.
There remaining period also failed to yield a goal and the teams were forced to settle for a draw and division of two points.
Mumbai FC with 9 points from 6 games remain in fourth position while champions Bagan with 11 points from 5 games stay in third place behind leaders Bengaluru FC (15 points) and East Bengal (14 points).
Mumbai FC, next travel to Goa to take on Sporting Clube de Goa on Sunday, February 14.
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