Lajong moving steady...
By Anselm Noronha
Mohun Bagan kicked off their IFA Shield campaign with a 1-1 draw against Shillong Lajong in a Group B encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Monday afternoon.
Ashim Biswas gave Subhas Bhowmick's side the lead in the 32nd minute but it was canceled out by Lajong's Zenith in the 66th minute.
Bagan's Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi missed a couple of chances in the early minutes of the game as the Mariners failed to make their domination count.
It was Gouranga Dutta's flag kick that found Ashim Biswas at the right place to nod home the opener in the 32nd minute.
Minutes later, Gouranga wasted a golden opportunity to double his side's lead as Lajong went into the halftime break only 1-0 down.
Lajong showed more intent to go forward in the second half with Zenith and Ralte stringing together some good moves but the Shillong-based side were not clinical in front of goal.
In the 66th minute, Zenith finally found the back of the net through a brilliantly taken free-kick from the edge of the box.
The green and maroon brigade will be disappointed to start with a point while Lajong recorded their second successive draw.