Bagan ride Eze goal to beat East Bengal

KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan rode Nigerian centre-back Kingsley Eze’s first-half header to down arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 in a heated Kolkata derby and claim their first win of the 2017-18 I-League at a packed Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday.

The lunchtime kick-off saw 64,630 spectators turn up for the marquee fixture being played at the colossal venue after a gap of almost two years.

Eze scored in the 39th minute to give the ‘home team’ the lead. He was impressive at the heart of the Mohun Bagan defence and weathered a string of efforts by East Bengal in the second half along with Kingshuk Debnath to help seal the three points.

East Bengal were disappointing throughout the match.

They lacked teeth up front and failed to deliver in the final third.

Courtesy the result, Mohun Bagan now have four points from two games while East Bengal

THE KICKOFF SAW 64,630 SPECTATORS TURN UP FOR THE MARQUEE FIXTURE BEING PLAYED AT THE VENUE AFTER A GAP OF ALMOST TWO YEARS.

remain on one point from two outings.

Mohun Bagan made three changes from the last game against Minerva Punjab FC with Yuta Kinowaki making a comeback from injury.

East Bengal ringed in the same number of changes. Luis Barreto was preferred over Mirshad between the sticks with Mohammed Rafique and Salam Ranjan Singh making way for veteran Gurwinder Singh and Laldanmawia Ralte.

Mohun Bagan took the lead and eventually sealed the game with a brillant header.

Norde’s corner was flicked on by Kinowaki into the path of Kingsley who nodded in from close.