Muritala inspires Bagan to end drought

Their talisman, Jose Barreto, was on the bench and Edeh Chidi in the media box. Going into the 17th match of I-League 4 after five draws and a makeshift central midfield pair and a stop-gap striker, if ever Mohun Bagan needed a pole star it was on Saturday. Step forward, Subair Muritala Ali.

Their talisman, Jose Barreto, was on the bench and Edeh Chidi in the media box. Going into the 17th match of I-League 4 after five draws and a makeshift central midfield pair and a stop-gap striker, if ever Mohun Bagan needed a pole star it was on Saturday. Step forward, Subair Muritala Ali.

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The sinewy Nigerian scored the first goal and produced a crucial pass that led to the second, but against Viva Kerala on a hot afternoon his contribution was more than the sum of its parts. Muritala Ali's header in first-half stoppage time, off an Ishfaq Ahmed free-kick, produced a goalline save from Charles Dzisah and, late in the second half, his chip didn't miss by much. Satish Kumar could have put Mohun Bagan in front and fetched the insurance goal had his efforts not brought out smart saves from goalie Sharath K.

Ahmed may have been wearing the armband but it was Muritala Ali who suffused Mohun Bagan with the self-belief they sorely needed to return to winning ways after over a month and six rounds.

Result: Mohun Bagan 2 (Subair Muritala Ali 36; Jose Barreto 85) beat Viva Kerala 1 (C Sabeeth, 90+3).

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