In an inspired show under the bar the Air India goalkeeper ensured that favourites Bagan were held to a goalless draw by the team languishing at the bottom on the table. An elated Das Sarma said after the match, “They had asked me to come and play for them but later they rejected me. This was the match where I had to show them my capabilities.”

Despite the fact that Bagan’s talismanic duo of Jose Barreto and Baichung Bhutia were on fire, Das Sarma didn’t allow any ball to reach the net. The green and maroon brigade was on target right from the first minute, but it was not their day. It was only in 12th minute that the ball traveled to the airmen half for the first time. In the initial minutes Barreto missed a header off a Dharamjit Singh corner kick.

Later in the 21st minute Air India got a chance when Sanju Pradhan moved forward. He passed the ball to Bashiru Abbas but the Nigerian missed a sitter. This move came as a surprise to Bagan and their many supporters in the stands.

Bagan dominated the entire first half but the five men Air-India defense nullified their attacks. Each time Bhutia or Barreto moved in the direction of the goal, the Air-India defenders were extra cautious. Uttam Singh led the Air India back line solidly.

In the 42nd minute Bagan had chance to get the edge but Bhutia failed to connect a Dharamjit Singh corner kick. After taking a stock of the situation during the half-time, Air-India went in an attacking move. But with forward Samson Singh listless, things didn’t go their way.

In the 75th minute Bagan came close to scoring. Bhutia took a shot but Air-India goalkeeper moved forward and pushed the ball out. Jonathan Chimezie got the lose ball but his shot was wide off the target.

With the forwards not making much headway, Bagan tried to score from long range. Since they were playing with the wind, it was a ploy worth trying. In the 82nd minute, Bagan medio Mohan Raj tried a 30 yarder but Das Sarma was equal to the task as he collected the ball.

Bagan survived a scare in the 88th minute when Bashiru sent a cross, but Narendra Meetei took too long to release the ball and that spoiled the move. Though the two teams missed their key players but the goalless draw proved entertaining.

Air-India’s coach Bimal Ghosh did not look too pleased with just one point as he said, “Though our right winger Paresh Shilvalkar was missed but Micheal Tayo made it up for him.”