Kolkata: City giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan faced each other in the high voltage Calcutta Football League 2018 clash where both the teams played out a 2-2 draw in a nail biting clash at the Salt lake Stadium today. In front of 65,000 supporters Mohun Bagan took the early lead by 2 goals with brilliant strikes from Pintu Mahato and Henry Kisseka. Later the Red & Gold Brigade made a remarkable comeback with the equalizers from Cost Rican World Cupper Jhonny Acosta and Laldanmawia Ralte. Pintu was adjudged Man of the Match for his brilliant goal today.
During the game the situation heated up between the players of both the sides. The referee showed yellow cards to Al Amna and Shilton Paul respectively. Veteran footballer Mehtab Hossain came in the field as the substitute of Shilton de’ Silva but he had to leave the field in just 3 minutes after he sustained an injury on his hand. East Bengal’s new head coach Alejandro Mendez Garcia & legendary PK Banerjee both were present at the stadium to enjoy the game. Both the teams now have 20 points in their kitty in 8 matches.
The first half was all Mohun Bagan but in the second half it was only East Bengal and East Bengal. After the arrival of Lalrindika Ralte in the later part of the first half the Red & Gold Brigade came back strongly in the game. Costa Rican World Cupper Jhonny Acosta was playing his first match in India today. At first he had some problems regarding the combination with his fellow defenders but he was trying to go up in the attack and score goals for his side. And at last during the injury time of the first half, he scored his first goal for his side as well. Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shilton Paul did the mistake as the ball hit hos chest and went out of his control, the ball then touched Jhonny Acosta’s chest and went straight in the goals.
In the 61st minute of the game, East Bengal scores its second goal as the substitute Lalrindika Ralte’s centre was misjudged by Bagan goalie Shilton Paul and Danmawia didn’t do any wrong to equalize.