Kolkata: Mohun Bagan and East Bengal played out a drab goalless draw in the return leg I-League derby which was watched by a 25 percent capacity crowd at the Yuba Bharati Krirngan here on Saturday.
The much-hyped return leg derby failed to live up to the expectation as only around 30,000 spectators turned up for the match, exactly two months after the same venue had witnessed ugly fan violence that had led to Mohun Bagan’s ban, which was revoked later by the AIFF.
There was no scope for any fan violence this time as most of them stayed away while the players of both teams put up an uninspiring show where security arrangements were tight.
In fact, at some stands of the 120,000 capacity stadium, the Khaki-clad men outnumbered the fans, something rarely noticed in any high profile derby.
After this draw, East Bengal remain in pole position in the I-League table with 40 points from 20 matches, while Mohun Bagan have six from 15.
On paper, it was a battle of unequals with East Bengal perched on the top of the table against their bitter rivals, Mohun Bagan, fighting to avoid relegation at the bottom spot.
But on the field it was a battle of equals with both teams wasting opportunities galore. Mohun Bagan had the edge, missing one free kick in the first-half and they were also unlucky as Kerala referee Santosh Kumar refused to award a penalty kick after East Bengal defender Uga Okpara handled the ball inside the box.
In the best chance of the match, Bagan got a free kick in the 32nd minute just outside EB’s box and Odafa Okolie’s rightfooter beat Abhijit Mondal but only to hit the far post.
Minutes after the changeover, East Bengal defender Okpara handled the ball inside the box from a Tolgay Ozbey shot but the referee turned down a penalty kick appeal much to the dismay of Bagan.
In the other match of the day, three second half goals gave Pune FC a 3-0 win over Mumbai FC in the Maharastra derby. (PTI)
Sunday’s matches: Pailan Arrows vs Sporting Clube de Goa, United Sikkim vs ONGC, Churchill Brothers vs Prayag United and Air India vs Dempo.