CFL 2018: East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Match Report- Johnny Acosta scores as Kolkata derby ends in 2-2 draw

Sep 2 (AZINS) East Bengal staged a brilliant comeback as they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Mohan Bagan in the Calcutta Football League clash on Sunday.

The first Kolkata Derby - the biggest match in Indian football - of the 2018-19 season ended with honours even at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan aka Salt Lake Stadium.

Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were locked at the top of the table in the Calcutta Football League with 19 points before the match.

Mohun Bagan surge

The match, witnessed by a huge crowd at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, both teams attacking mood at the start.

Johnny Acosta was the leader of East Bengal's defense and helped Al Amna in constructing the attacks too. Acosta, who has played for Costa Rica in the FIFA World Cup, was also their main man during set-piece attcks in the opponent's box.

However, it was Mohun Bagan who surged ahead with some great moves on counter attacks.

The got a chance to score early with a freekick in a promising position - but East Bengal goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar denied Henry Kisseka with an incredible diving save.

The team in Maroon and Green brigade got their first goal when Pintu Mahata met a cross from right-back Arijit Bagui in the East Bengal box and slotted it low past Dagar into the goal.

It was Arijit Bagui again who created the second goal for Mohun Bagan with another great cross. The ball found its way to Kisseka who smashed it into the left bottom corner to make it 2-0.

East Bengal fight back

Mohun Bagan did not allow East Bengal many chances in the first half. However, some good luck for EB and a defending error by MB, allowed Jhonny Acosta to score on his debut. Shilton failed to cleanly catch a shot on target and the ball bounced off Acosta to go in the net.

The goal came in the added time in the first half.

East Bengal were more positive in the second half with The Red and Golds attacking with freedom. They were rewarded for this just after the hour mark when Laldanmawia Ralte put them level from a corner.

The two sides then tried hard to break the deadlock but settled for a 2-2 draw in the end.

It means that the two teams are still level in terms if points in CFL 2018 but Bagan lead the table on superior number of goals scored.