Mohun Bagan hold Salgaocar 2-2 in I-League

The draw has now put Salgaocar almost out of the title race as they now stay on 47 points from 23 matches. And a win for East Bengal and Dempo in all their remaining matches will see them finish ahead of Salgaocar in the league table.

Mohun Bagan have 31 points from 24 matches.

Chidi scored his double with two brilliant headers in the 15th and 53rd minutes,while Salgaocar scored through Ryuji Sueoka (30th) and Gilbert Oliveira (38th).

Playing without their star forwards Jose Barreto and Subair Muritala Ali,Mohun Bagan had a spirited start to their campaign,taking a 1-0 lead.

But it was a familiar script for their defence,which once again let itself loose to allow Salgaocar fight back with two goals in a space of eight minutes.

After registering their first victory following a five-match winless run,Mohun Bagan showed the same intent with Chidi giving them the lead.

From a Surkumar Singh cross,Chidi was spot on with his header after Salgaocar’s Jaspal Parmar,who came in the line,misjudged the flight completely.

But like in the past,Mohun Bagan lost the lead as it took Salgaocar 15 minutes to make a comeback.

Making amend for his misjudgement when they conceded the lead,Parmar set it up for Sueoka to bring in the equaliser with a clinical finish.

Salgaocar snatched the lead through a brilliant effort by Oliveira who utilised a Anthony Barbosa cross to perfection as they led 2-1 at the interval.

Ashim Biswas missed a sitter for Mohun Bagan in the 50th minute but Chidi continuing his impressive show brought in the 2-2 equaliser to hold Salgaocar.

The Nigerian forward completed his brace with another beautiful header from a Gouranga Dutta left-footer pass.

Chidi almost brought on his hat-trick in the dying minutes but his right footer from the close range sailed over the crosspiece,in what could have been a dramatic turnaround.