Mohun Bagan earns a draw against Bengaluru FC

Mohun Bagan held Bengaluru FC to a 1-1 draw in the last Group B match and finished at the top of the table with seven points in the Federation Cup football tournament at the Barabati Stadium on Friday.

Sony Norde in action during Mohun Bagan's Federation Cup match against Bengaluru FC in Cuttack on Friday.

Mohun Bagan held Bengaluru FC to a 1-1 draw in the last Group B match and finished at the top of the table with seven points in the Federation Cup football tournament at the Barabati Stadium here on Friday. Bengaluru took the second spot after securing four points.

Both Bagan and Bengaluru entered the semifinals.

Meeting Bagan fourth time in two months, Bengaluru valued ball possession and showed aggression. Alwyn George’s crisp left-footer from left side of the box put Bengaluru ahead in the 12th minute.

Sunil Chhetri combined well with his colleagues upfront and came close to scoring once.

Bagan’s attempt to score the equaliser did not materialise as Amrinder Singh captured a Katsumi Yusa header in the 30th minute.

Bagan, which introduced five changes to its first XI, made it 1-1 when its trusted forward Sony Norde, on the left, fired an angled shot from about 25 yards five minutes after resumption.

READ: Chhetri - ‘We have been wasteful in front of goal’

Shillong defeats Shivajians

A 10-man Shillong Lajong defeated DSK Shivajians 3-2 to post its first win, which went in vain.

Shillong drew first blood early in the action-packed second period after a goalless opening half. Slack clearance inside a crowded box cost Shivajians dear as Alen Deory pushed the ball into the net.

Showing more urgency, Shivajians mounted pressure but could not rectify its finishing problems.

Holicharan Nazary got the better of two defenders and shot high into the net to level the scores in the 64th minute. Lajong restored its lead within minutes as Subrata Paul fumbled with his collection and Redeem Tlang slotted in the rebound.

Shillong was on back foot for the last 15 minutes as its keeper Vishal Kaith was sent off for bringing down Chhangte outside the box.

Nazary's stunning shot again drew parity but Samuel Lalmuanpuia beat Paul in one-on-one situation to spoil Shivajians' plans.

The results: Group B: Shillong Lajong 3 (Alen Deory 49, Redeem Tlang 68, Samuel Lalmuanpuia 90+2) bt DSK Shivajians 2 (Holicharan Nazary 64, 86); Bengaluru FC 1 (Alwyn George 12) drew with Mohun Bagan 1 (Sony Norde 50).