Young East Bengal live up to ‘senior’ Bagan’s challenge in CFL derby

KOLKATA: Eventually, there were no winners in the CFL Premier Division derby at Barasat on Monday.A heavily reinforced Mohun Bagan failed to make Manvir Singh's first-half strike count as East Bengal FC came back with renewed vigour and vision after the break and duly scooped up the equaliser through Mohamed Bilal's powerful header, ensuring that it remained even-steven. Yet, the way East Bengal FC players were celebrating after the match manifested the underlying current of this latest clash between the two traditional rivals.With both the teams having already qualified for the championship round, Monday's face-off looked more to be a game of academic interest than anything else. Yet Mohun Bagan decided to inject life into it by pitchforking a host of senior-team players into the field and trying to make the most of it. If there was a need to end their 12-year-long winless run against the rivals in the local league, Mohun Bagan's competitive drive was further accentuated by the fact that the match was happening just a fortnight after they suffered a 1-4 capitulation to East Bengal in the Durand Cup final.So, the way senior team coach Panagiotis Dilmperis helped his assistant Bastab Roy prepare for the match and the likes of Subhashis Bose, Apuia, Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul Bheke and Manvir were given the start on Monday, Mohun Bagan's search for a revenge was all too evident at the outset.East Bengal, however, decided to keep faith in their proven performers from the reserve side which not only entered the contest with an unbeaten run in this league but was determined to live up to the challenge.The game started off on predictable lines - Bagan dominating possession and East Bengal fighting tooth and nail to keep them at bay.Manvir eventually broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Racing into the box and facing a challenge from Ankan Bhattacharjee, the Bagan attacker drove home, although East Bengal goalkeeper Gourab Shaw should have dealt with it.East Bengal returned after the break with more attacking ambitions and the Bagan backline - manned by three senior pros - captain Subhashis, Bheke and Mehtab Singh - had a tough time in containing them. Mehtab denied Akash Hemram with a timely intervention while Bijay Murmu hit the side-netting from close. Bilal eventually made it 1-1 in the 65th minute. Ten minutes after substituting Manotosh Maji, Bilal met Murmu's corner with a sumptuous header, giving Bagan goalkeeper Deeprobhat Ghosh no chance to react.Bagan still came calling but Sayan Banerjee was denied by Shaw's brilliant finger-tipping save. At the other end, East Bengal's Uttam Hansda saw his header ricochet off the crosspiece.Bagan heaved a sigh of relief as a spirited and young East Bengal showed them that it was never meant to be a child's play.The draw helped East Bengal pip Bhawanipore SC to the top of Group A with a better goal difference while Bagan would enter the Super 6 with 23 points, four points behind the duo.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.