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East Bengal Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club played out a goalless draw in their final Group-A game of the U-19 IFA Shield 2017 at East Bengal ground on Sunday, June 4.
Mohammedan Sporting were already eliminated after losing their two previous matches against Pathachakra Club (1-2) and AIFF Elite Academy (0-4) while East Bengal had to win and hope for a favour from the AIFF Elite Academy in the day’s other game at Howrah Maidan, but there was to be no miracle.
The result meant Mohammedan SC (1 pt) ended their campaign in fourth place behind Pathachakra (7 pts), AIFF Elite Academy (6 pts) and East Bengal (2 pts).
East Bengal had to weather a second half assault before Mohammedan Sporting ran out of energy in hot conditions, missing several chances as they won countless corners but failed to make use of them.
East Bengal started with confidence and might have had the opener in the 20th minute when Lalchhanhima missed out on a square pass from Bidyasagar Singh on the right wing.
But after the two teams broke on the half hour mark for a brief cooling break, Mohammedan Sporting emerged much more attacking flair and should have been ahead three minutes later when Goutam Teli was unmarked at the back post but missed his shot from just yards out.
A snap effort from Sachin Singh in the 42nd minute was also off target, as was Parwej Ali’s hard strike just before the break.
Changing over, both sides battled hard in the midfield. However, it was Mohammedan Sporting who had the better chances to take the lead.
Mohammedan Sporting kept on pushing forward and had two more close chances midway through the half, but the strike pair of Goutam and Sachin were both denied by the East Bengal custodian Sovan Biswas.
First Goutam charged up and took a crack on the target but the attempt was palmed away by the keeper in the 62nd minute. Then, Sachin was denied by a last ditch clearance after he did well to get a shot on target in the 64th minute.
In the final quarter, both sides engaged in an end-to-end battle but none of the teams could break the deadlock as the game ended goalless.
