KOLKATA: Mohammedan Sporting Club failed to garner three vital points in their race to the Calcutta Premier Division ‘A’ title as Peerless Sports Club beat them 1-0 on Thursday at Mohammedan Sporting Ground.
Trinidadian World Cupper Anthony Wolfe scored the only goal of the match in the 20th minute to hand the Black Panthers their second defeat of the campaign.
Going into the game, Mohammedan SC technical director Raghu Nandi made the only change to the side by handing start to goalkeeper Arup Debnath in place of injured Priyant Singh.
While the start of the game was delayed by 45 minutes owing to incessant rains and a water-logged pitch, the Black Panthers came out all guns blazing when it finally did.
The thunderous outpour of rain made life difficult for both the teams and both adjusted to playing on a wet surface in the opening minutes, with neither taking the risk of attacking.
However, Mohammedan SC expressed their intent as early as the third minute with Bazie Armand squandering a gilt-edged chance. Having beaten Chika Wali to the ball, the former Minerva Punjab midfielder saw his header attempt fly wide of goal.
Mohammedan SC were applying all the early pressure with Princewill Emeka squandering another chance in the 12th minute. Dipendu Dowary picked out the burly striker from a corner-kick, but despite having lost his marker, he could only manage to direct his attempt wide of goal.
While Mohammedan SC pressed high up, Peerless managed to take the lead against the run of the play at the other end when Wolfe headed past Arup from close range in the 20th minute.
Having conceded, Mohammedan SC began attacking with intensity through Princewill, Dipendu and Rahul KP, but Peerless managed to hold on defending deep as the first-half ended 1-0.
The second-half was a similar story as Mohammedan SC dominated majority of the proceedings looking for the equalizer and almost camped in the rival half. While they pushed up front, close chances fell for Princewill but the striker lacked killer finish in the final third.
Nandi brought on new signing Philip Adjah in place of Bazie in the 64th minute as the Black Panthers pushed for the equalizer.
Mohammedan SC though created many chances but failed to equalize, as they failed to stick to their passing game policy. The players seemed to be more keen on playing direct football sending long balls from the centre-line.
Towards the end, Mohammedan SC went agonisingly close through Lancine Toure but the Black Panthers skipper failed to score as the game ended 1-0.
The result meant Mohammedan SC remain on fourth position in the log standings with 10 points from 6 matches.