Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan failed in their bid to defeat Mumbai FC in their home venue for the third season in a row as today's I-League game between the two outfits ended in a goalless draw here.
Mumbai FC, who made three changes to the starting line-up, including new signing Alex Silva of Brazil, took time to get off the blocks.
The visiting Bagan side created a couple of chances during this period with Haitian Sony Norde testing goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani with a snap long essay in the 13th minute. That proved to be a wake-up call for the home side as they gradually clicked and they started to launch a series of raids at the Bagan goal.
However, they were unlucky not to take the lead on quite a number of occasions in the first period and were also robbed of a goal when Thoi Singh managed to find the net, but referee Tejas Nagvenkar disallowed the goal ruling that the striker was offside.
The Mumbai team was also denied by the wood work when Farukh Choudhary did well to lunge forward to meet Thoi's floater from the right but diving header, that had goalkeeper Debjith Majumder beaten, came back off the upright in the 32nd minute.
Earlier, Silva came close to scoring from two well executed free-kicks which were parried away by Bagan's custodian Majumder for corners.
The Mumbai side once again came close to taking the lead but successive attempts from and finally Trinidadian Theobald's try from close was saved by an alert goalkeeper Majumder who did well to push the ball away from a melee and the two teams went into the break locked goalless.
The second half did not witness any exciting goal-mouth action barring the odd one. Hardly any attempt ws created at either end and the game finished in stalemate.
Mumbai FC goalkeeper Kattimani was declared 'Man of the match' and received a cash award of Rs 10,000.
The draw enabled Bagan increase their points tally to 18 from eight games and kept them in second spot on the table, while Mumbai FC, who will next take on defending champions Bengaluru FC in a 10th round match here on February 18, remained on eighth spot with seven points from nine matches.
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