I-League: HAL hold Mohun Bagan to a goalless draw

Kolkata, April 6 (IANS) Mohun Bagan failed to live upto their reputation when they were held to a goalless draw by bottom-placed HAL Bangalore in an I-League match at the Salt Lake Stadium Friday.

The result took Mohun Bagan to 40 points from 23 matches while HAL move to eight points from 22 matches.

The HAL defenders performed brilliantly as they marked Bagan's talismanic striker Odafa Okolie and shut him out of the game. Even Brazilian midfielder Hudson Lima, who made a comeback after an injury lay-off, couldn't help Bagan's cause.

Bagan, nevertheless, had the first chance of the match -- a Jewel Raja shot from a Jose Barretto pass sailed over the crossbar in the 17th minute.

Changing over, HAL had a couple of half chances and Bagan tried to stem the rot bringing in NP Pradeep in place of AIFF Player-of-the-Year Sunil Chettri in the 61st mintue.

HAL missed a golden opportunity to surge ahead in the 64th minute as Rohit Chand missed from close range. Bagan did go all out in the last 20 minutes but with Odafa not being given any space by the rival defenders, the Kolkata giants were unable to find the breakthrough.