Bagan win derby, stay on top
KOLKATA: With cracks in the defence becoming crevasses, it defied belief that Mohun Bagan would protect a two-goal lead in Sunday’s I-league derby. Marcos Espada pulled one back and if East Bengal couldn’t score another it was because the football gods were not in their corner.
There would be near unanimity on Spanish playmaker Joseba Beitia being adjudged the match’s best player—his goal and an assist helping Bagan consolidate their position atop the standings with 17 points from eight games. “Bring it back,” a tifo emblazoned with the I-league trophy was unfurled at the end of 2-1 win at Salt Lake stadium where Papa Diawara scored Bagan’s second goal. “Only 40% of the competition is done. I am happy for the supporters and the team but I am not happy with the performance of the defence, especially in the second half,” said Bagan coach Kibu Vicuna.
Their third successive defeat keeps East Bengal on eight points from seven games.
Before kick-off, East Bengal fans put up a banner that said they have earned the right to be here through blood ties and not through documents.
The team, however, was tentative in the first half. Imphal’s Nongdamba Naorem—on loan from Kerala Blasters—was anything but. In the 19th minute, and after good hold-up play by Diawara
to a long ball from Fran Morante, Naorem sped into the box, dragged two defenders with him and hooked the ball back from the byline. Running in, Beitia headed home.
East Bengal were denied the equaliser in the 37th minute through a goalline save from Daneil Cyrus, which kept out a stab from Kassim Aidara. It was 2-0 in the 64th minute when Diawara rose tallest to head home Beitia’s corner-kick.