Mohun Bagan U‑23 were held to a 1–1 draw by Khidirpur in a competitive Calcutta League fixture marked by early dominance from the Mariners and a gritty second‑half comeback from Khidirpur.
Mohun Bagan started sharply, moving the ball with confidence and pressing high. Their wing play, particularly down the right, created repeated openings.
The early breakthrough came from a well‑worked move: a low cross into the box by Kiyan found Sandeep Malik who finished calmly to make it 1–0 at 28th minute.
Bagan continued to dictate tempo, circulating possession and keeping Khidirpur pinned back. Khidirpur struggled to maintain rhythm but slowly began finding moments through long balls and physical duels.
As the half progressed, Khidirpur ‘s confidence increased. Their direct approach, long diagonals, quick counters, and physical challenges, started troubling Mohun Bagan’s backline.
A few nervy moments emerged:
A Khidirpur attacker nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse.
Mohun Bagan’s goalkeeper had to intervene decisively on two occasions.
Khidirpur returned with renewed aggression in the second half. Their midfield pressed higher, forcing Mohun Bagan into hurried passes and breaking the Mariners’ earlier rhythm.
Mohun Bagan created chances to double the lead:
A curling effort from the left missed the far post by inches.
A header from a corner sailed over the bar.
But Khidirpur’s persistence paid off.
A long diagonal ball opened up Mohun Bagan’s defense. After a brief scramble inside the box, a Khidirpur forward, Tuhin Sikdar , slotted home the equalizer at 48th munute.
The closing phase was tense and end‑to‑end:
Mohun Bagan’s wingers delivered dangerous crosses, but finishing proved elusive.
Khidirpur nearly snatched the match with a header from a late set piece.
Both sides showed fatigue yet kept fighting until the final whistle.
Ultimately, neither team found the decisive goal, and the match ended 1–1, a fair reflection of Mohun Bagan’s technical superiority and Khidirpur’s determined resilience.
