Bagan stay on track in Asia, hold Yangon to 1-1 draw away from home courtesy Glen strike

THE MARINERS KEPT their AFC Cup campaign on track by holding Yangon United to a 1-1 draw away from home, remaining unbeaten and firmly at the top of Group G.

Mohun Bagan, who were already playing without one of their major-most attackers, Sony Norde, had another surprise in their starting line-up: first-choice keeper Debjit Majumber made way for Arnab Das Sharma in the starting line-up. Katsumi Yusa was being played in the left in the absence of Norde, and Subash Singh was minding the right flank. Bagan stuck to their two-forwards strategy, playing Jeje Lalpekhlua and Cornell Glen side by side up front.

The first few minutes saw the home team attempt to take over the proceedings by playing a quick passing game in the midfield. Pronay Halder, as usual, went aggressively into the game, committing a foul that gave Yangon their first chance at goal; a free kick from scoring range that went just wide.

Bagan took their time to read the game and slowly organized accordingly, looking to de-stabilize the home team midfield by taking the game to the flanks. 

Katsumi ran up and fed Dhanachandra, who shot it wide. Then Cornell Glen came into the picture, dribbled his way into the Yangon box, but his shot just about missed the target. Jeje found Glen who passed it to Subash this time and the shot went for some different destination altogether. Yangon replied with a good cross by Adilson to Marcelo but the latter only found the side netting.

After Bagan botched a corner, Yangon almost got them on the counter. Adilson took the ball, sprinted ahead, shot from a distance and it went just above the crossbar. Then Ko Ko reigned terror in the MB box when he took a shot that Dhanachandra tried to clear for a corner... but it almost went into his own goal.

And soon the home side had the lead. Ko Ko and Adilson Dos Santos moved up in combination, exchanging the ball amongst themselves. The final cross came in for Adilson who wasn't well marked and shot it into the net. It was 1-0.

Raju Gaikwad got into some roughness with Ko Ko immediately afterwards, bringing the Yangon medio down just outside the box. The free kick by Lin went way too high to be of any help. 

Bagan rose in counter, and Glen found Subash who ran into the box but despite Pritam Kotal being nearby completely unmarked he chose to shoot at goal through a jungle of legs. The keeper palmed it out for a corner, which didn't get converted.

And then Ko Ko almost doubled the lead for Yangon. He ran in, with Raju Gaikwad tailing him, and Arnab Das Sharma leaping at the ball on his feet. He successfully sent it past the keeper but the ball came off the post. 

And that miss proved to be costly for Yangon because the very next minute, Lenny Rodrigues sent a long ball ahead, and Cornell Glen did great to beat the offside trap and darted past two defenders to receive the ball with acres of space ahead of him. He got in close, with the keeper charging at him, and sent a grass-kisser past the hapless custodian. It was perfect. 1-1 just before half-time.

And Glen was let loose again a minute later and he was blatantly fouled by the last defender in his way. But the referee, for some unfathomable reason, did not even blow the whistle on this card-worthy foul. Sanjoy Sen lost his cool and yelled at the fourth official, and the referee sent him back to the bench with a warning. The first half ended 1-1 but the nerves were already full on display.

The attacks on Glen continued almost as soon as the game resumed; Lwin tackled him pretty rashly. Unwillin to be bogged down, Glen ran up and sent in a great cross for Jeje, who let fly, but David Htan made a goal line save to deny him.

Jeje continued going shoulder to shoulder with the Yangon players. He sent Ko Ko flying and went studs up into Kunihiro. The referee duly booked him.

Then Arnab Das Sharma proved that he wasn't included in the squad for nothing. He made a brilliant save from a very tricky shot by David Htan. Luciano Sabrosa also pitched in, beating Htan in a battle for a high ball. 

Glen got fouled not far from the box. He took the free kick, Katsumi got his head to it mis-timed the whole thing. Yangon countered, Ko Ko ran in diagonally and took a crack at the goal. Arnab fumbled trying to save it, and then sent the hopping ball out for a corner in a nervous action to avoid any danger.

Arnab made another mistake when he got a backpass and picked it up with his hands. The referee awarded an indirect free-kick to Yangon, bang inside the penalty box. Adilson's shot, though, was deflected off for a corner. 

Bagan came close when Luciano made a run deep into Yangon territory Katsumi fed him the ball, and he let fly... but missed the crossbar. 

Not much time was left after this and the match ended in a draw. Both coaches seemed to be happy with the result; Sanjoy Sen was pleased to remain at the top of the Group G with 10 points from 4 matches; yet unbeaten. Yangon United, after avoiding defeat at the hands of the group leaders, stayed second with 5 points from 4 matches. 

Given that Bagan were playing without two of their most reliable players, they would be happy to come back with a draw from Myanmar. The club have almost booked a place in the knocout rounds of AFC Cup, and will have the chance to seal the deal when they face Maziya away from home on 27th April; minus the pressure of the freefalling I-League campaign, and hopefully with a full-strength squad.