Mohun Bagan manage 1-1 draw with Air India

Kolkata, Oct 3 (IANS) Substitute Branco Vincent Cardozo's second half strike enabled three time winners Mohun Bagan salvage a 1-1 draw against Mumbai's Air India in a I-League encounter here Friday.

Tata Football Academy product Branco struck in the 70th minute to nullify Mumbai side's first half lead through Soccor Velho at the Salt Lake stadium.

The visitors, who had an identical result against Mohammedan Sporting in their lung-opener, now have two points from the same number of matches. Bagan are one point behind.

Air India went ahead just before the half-time whistle following a freekick. The setpiece by Napoleon Singh broke through the Bagan wall and Soccor Velho put the ball into the net.

Branco, who walked in as a replacement for Lalramluahah in the 61st minute, found the mark with a powerful shot by latching on to a measured cross from striker Lalawmpuiya.

The visitors, however, came close to scoring six minutes from time but striker Emmanuel Ovieghara's header was deflected by Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul.

Bagan were hamstrung by the lacklustre display of their Brazilian forward Jose Ramirez Barreto, who failed to convert several chances which came his way.