Mohun Bagan held by Chirag in Federation Cup

Guwahati: Defending champions Mohun Bagan failed to score from chances galore in the second session as they were held to a goal-less draw by Chirag United in their second league match of the Federation Cup football tournament here on Wednesday. Playing before a capacity crowd at the Nehru Stadium here, Bagan dished out attacking soccer, creating at least half a dozen chances, but poor finishing and good defence by Chirag undid all their efforts in the Group B match. Chirag got a couple of chances in the first session were completely outplayed by their more fancied rivals. With this draw, Chirag are almost out of the tournament having lost their earlier match against Mahindra United 1-2 on Monday. Mohun Bagan are now on four points from two matches and they play Mahindra in their final group match on Saturday. The two sides were on even keel in the first session with Chirag being able to breach Mohun Bagan defence on a few occasions mainly from the right flank with nippy Shylo Malswamtulunga doing lots of running. In fact, Chirag could have taken the lead in the sixth minute itself. After a few neat touches, Malswamtulunga created some space on the right and cut it back across perfectly for a sliding tap-in for Parveen Kumar in front of Mohun Bagan goal who, however, miscues it and sent it wide. Bagan strikers Jose Ramirez Barretto and Chidi Edeh failed to make much impact in the first session though they probed the Chirag defence a couple of times. PTI