Tags:
Journalism of Courage
CALCUTTA, JAN 18: A disallowed goal, netted by Mohan Bagan8217;s Cheema Okerie in the dying moments, sparked violence in the gallery at a Coca Cola National Football League Group A match in which Goa8217;s Dempo Sports Club and the Calcutta giants drew 1-1 at Salt Lake Stadium here.
Defending champions Mohun Bagan were leading 1-0 in the first half through a goal by mercurial striker IM Vijayan. However, the euphoria for the local side proved short-lived, with an equaliser for the Goans coming eight minutes into the second half.
Striker Francis Silviera, positioning himself in an unmarked area, followed a corner kick from Tejinder Kumar and made no mistake outwitting a bunch of Bagan defenders.
This enabled the visitors snatch a vital point. Earlier, they lost to Tollygunge Agragami 0-1.
Bagan in their last four outings managed to secure six points, a win against Air-India 2-0 and drew with JCT Mills and Churchill Brothers.
Four players, two each from each club, were shown the yellow card by Delhi refereeKrishna Avtar today.
Desperately looking for a win, Mohun Bagan got an opportunity at the fag end through a corner. Substitute Iranian import Basim Yonan took the corner and Nigerian Cheema Okerie sent a header into the net. But their jubilation abruptly came to halt when referee Krishna Avtar disallowed the goal.
The whistle, which came a bit late, confused the hosts. The referee held Cheema for pushing Goan defender Christopher.
This enraged Cheema who was seen rushing to the referee demanding reversal of the decision. The Nigerian chased the referee around the field. However, another substitute for Bagan, Nigerian Badabo intervened and pacified Cheema.
Soon after the game ended, Bagan supporters broke chairs in the galleries and threw stones inside the ground. The situation outside the stadium was also tense.
Bagan drew first blood when Goan stopper John D8217;Souza failed to clear a ball and in the melee IM Vijayan sent a low grounder to defeat keeper Sharma 1-0.
But after the breather, Dempolooked a well-oiled machine and started an all out offensive for the equaliser. They found it through Silviera. Bagan stopper Omello, in a bid to repulse an attack from the Goans, shot the ball off the field for a corner. This proved the nemesis of the hosts. Tejinder took the flag kick. His measured floater was well connected by a lurking Silviera whose grounder defeated Dinesh 1-1.
