New Delhi: Minerva FC returned to the top in the I-League standings with a 3-2 win over Shillong Lajong in Panchukula on Wednesday.
Guy Dano (sixth minute) and Gangandeep Bali (45+2, 81st) scored for the hosts while Daniel Odafin (60th) and Lawrence Doe (64th) netted for Lajong at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium.
Minerva now have 29 points from 13 matches, pushing Neroca FC (27 from 14 games) to second place. Lajong remained fifth in the 10-team league with 17 points from 15 matches.
Bagan held by Chennai
In Coimbatore, striker Akram Moghrabi missed a penalty as Mohun Bagan were held to a goalless draw by hosts Chennai City FC.
The draw dented Bagan’s title hopes as they remained fourth with 21 points from 13 matches, eight behind leaders Minerva, with five rounds of matches remaining.
Chennai are eighth with 12 points from 14 matches. Bagan missed a hatful of chances throughout the match and Moghrabi’s 82nd minute squandered penalty topped it all.
Bagan received the penalty when striker Asier Dipanda Dicka was tripped inside the box by Chennai defender Taif Akhand. But Moghrabi failed to find the net from the resultant spot kick.
Chennai next host Shillong Lajong on February 11 while Mohun Bagan play Gokulam Kerala FC in Kolkata the next day.
