Mohun Bagan defeated a hapless East Bengal team 2-0 in a much-awaited ISL Kolkata derby on Saturday. Jamie Maclaren and Dimitri Petratos were on the scoresheet for the Mariners at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Mohun Bagan outclassed East Bengal in every aspect on Saturday, not only controlling possession but also recording seven shots on target compared to East Bengal’s single attempt. This victory marks Mohun Bagan’s eighth win out of nine encounters against their arch-rivals in the ISL.
The green and maroon brigade, as expected, were the better team in the first half as they launched a plethora of attacks. Two reaction-saves from point blank range by East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill denied Mohun Bagan an early lead.
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However, with Maclaren, Greg Stewart, Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco continuously creating a menace for East Bengal defenders, it didn’t take last season’s shield winner long to find the back of the net.
After a few fierce one-on-on battle with East Bengal left-back Provat Lakra, Manvir finally managed to get a ball past him as he delivered a low cross from the right wing. Maclaren, with his poacher’s instinct, ran unmarked between Anwar Ali and Hector Yuste, the two East Bengal centrebacks, and drilled the ball beyond Gill’s near post.
The second half proved to be a boring affair as Oscar Bruzon’s men looked more disciplined in defending. Jose Molina’s team tried to recreate the attacking display of the first half but nothing materialised until the 88th minute when Gill wrongfully tackled Petratos inside his own box to gift Mohun Bagan a penalty.
Petratos, who came off the bench in the 77th minute, smashed the ball into the net from the spot to double his team’s lead, killing all hopes for East Bengal to stage a comeback.
Saturday’s loss marked East Bengal’s fifth consecutive defeat in the ISL, leaving them at the bottom of the standings. Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan sits in second place with 10 points, having secured three wins and a draw from their five matches.