East Bengal-Mumbai FC match ends in dull goalless draw

Mumbai: The 10th round I-league match between East Bengal and hosts Mumbai FC turned out to be a dull affair as it ended in a goalless draw at the Cooperage here today. Though Mumbai FC played four strikers -- Abhishek Yadav, Dane Pereira, Kanye Vincent and Alex Ambrose, who replaced Surojit Roy in the 59th minute -- they found it difficult to make inroads into the East Bengal half, which was packed with as many as five mid-fielders in the absence of a fully fit Baichung Bhutia, who was brought in in the 70th minute. On the other hand, East Bengal created more opportunities, attacking the rival goal post twice in the first ten minutes, but failed to get past the goalkeeper. A feeble attempt by Abel Hammond in the seventh minute was blocked by Mumbai FC goalkeeper Nidhinlal A.C. Three minutes later, Harmonjit Singh Khabra passed the ball to Hammond who in turn passed it to Alvito D` Cunha in the box, but his hit missed the target. The visitors had a good opportunity in the 18th minute as Budiram Tudu only had the goalkeeper to beat from the box after receiving a cross from Hammond but failed to do so as Nidhinlal diverted the ball out of danger-zone. The hosts too could have gone ahead but East Bengal keeper Abhra Mondal did well to deflect a Kayne Vincent shot overhead. PTI