NEW DELHI, October 22: Dipendu Biswas saved the day for Mohun Bagan with a spectacular header in the first half to give the Calcutta side a solitary goal win over Air-India, Mumbai and helped them enter the semi-finals of the DCM football tournament from Pool A, here today.Earlier, Tata Football Academy, Jamshedpur drew goalless with Border Security Force, Jalandhar in the other Pool A match.Bagan, playing without Chima Okerie, dominated the proceedings. The all important goal came in the 34th minute after a move from the right flank which saw Amit Das lobbing the ball into the penalty area. Goalkeeper Shyam Sawant punched it away but it was not cleared by the defenders. Taking advantage of the defensive lapse in the box, an unmarked Biswas headed the ballin from the other corner of the six-yard box to put his side ahead.Biswas was the highest scorer with 13 goals in the Calcutta League this season followed by Okerie (12 goals). Together they both contributed 25 goals in Bagan's 40-goal feast in the league.Amit Das, Biswas, Roshan Parera and Abdul Khalique kept the pressure up and Air-India were on the defensive for the major part of the play. However, Air-India, led by international Godfrey Perreira, launched a late attack. The mid-fielder moved up to support the forward line and made some good moves. His 52nd minute free kick from about 30 yards went straight to Bagan goalkeeper Bivas Ghosh.After N Khenthang managed to breach the Bagan defence and came close to scoring, Air-India's confidence grew and they worked hard for that elusive equaliser. But Bagan defence gave nothing away.TFA DOMINATE: It was the TFA boys all the way with Mahesh Gawali leading the attack. But he missed a sitter in the 20th minute. In the next minute, Sheikh Sanjeeb's solo attempt was blocked by a diving BSF goalkeeper Bibhas Saha. BSF owe the draw to their most seasoned player Bibhas Saha, who with acrobatic dives averted many dangerous situations. TFA are level with Air-India with both teams having a point each in Pool A. The winner of their match on Friday will be the second semi-finalist from the pool.
