KOLKATA: The iconic Salt Lake Stadium officially known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) witnessed the season’s first high voltage Kolkata Derby on Sunday as the Kolkata League Giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan fought a high octane 2-2 stalemate.
East Bengal came back from being two goals down to salvage a point against Mohun Bagan in the first Kolkata derby of the season.
Mohan Bagan took an early lead in the 22nd-minute when Pintu Mahata got the green and maroons ahead in the match, cashing in on a defensive error from the East Bengal back line. Soon in the 33rd-minute Henry doubled the lead from a set piece for Mohan Bagan to steer them to safety in the high octane Bengal derby. However, East Bengal’s biggest signing of the season Johnny Acosta scored his first goal for the club in the 47th minute and Laldanmawia Ralte found the equaliser 15 minutes later to restore parity. The first proper chance to break the deadlock fell to Mohun Bagan in the sixth minute of the match. Mehtab Singh brought down Aser Dipanda and gave away a free-kick. Henry Kisekka kept his delivery on target from almost 25 yards but Rakshit Dagar somehow kept the ball out. The Green and Maroons finally broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Pintu Mahata found the back of the net from Arijit Bagui’s cross. An unmarked Mahata received the ball inside the box slotted it home. Bagan doubled their lead in the 30th minute Arijit Bagui’s crossed once again for Henry Kisekka to convert from inside the box. Once again the East Bengal defenders were at fault as the Mohun Bagan players were unmarked inside the penalty box.
East Bengal Head Coach Subhash Bhowmick brought on Lalrindika Ralte in the 40th minute in place of Kamalpreet Singh. The former Minerva Punjab player had a nightmare outing in his maiden derby.
After performing consistently in the first six matches of the season, Singh miserably failed in the defensive midfield role. (UNI)
