ISL soccer : Mohun Bagan back to domination mode vs East Bengal

 

In the Kolkata derby of ISL, the power of green and maroon is shown again.  They went on top of the ISL league  beating East Bengal 3-1 on Sunday.  With 36 points in 17 matches, MBSG is topping the table  Besides, the Green-Maroon have played one match less than Mumbai.

 Dimitri Petratos caught the eye again in the derby.  Scored one goal, assisted in two.  With this, the Australian striker scored three goals in the derby.  Petratos is increasingly becoming the hero of the derby for the Mohan Bagan crowd.  Apart from goals and assists, he kept East Bengal's defense busy in various ways throughout the match.

 East Bengal's first half performance on Sunday is a clear proof of what can happen when a team's mentality is at rock bottom.  Half of East Bengal felt like they were a broken team.  There is no understanding with anyone.  The team's performance was not going to match the rhythm with which they played the ISL first round derby against Mohun Bagan after winning the Super Cup.

 But the game of that team changed in the second half.  Those who thought that East Bengal would have to leave the field with the shame of five goals, their thoughts did not succeed.  On the contrary, to the regret of the East Bengal fans at the end of the match, the result of the match could have been different if Clayton had not wasted the penalty or if the second half intensity had been shown in the first half.  Mohun Bagan's game showed a little sloppy attitude in the second half.  East Bengal took advantage of it.  However, no points came home to East Bengal.

 It was East Bengal who attacked first at the beginning of the match on this day.  After six minutes, Naurem Mahesh entered with the ball.  But his cross was cleared.  After taking control, Mohun Bagan attacked twice.  East Bengal got a penalty after 12 minutes, somewhat contrary to the game.  Naorem Mahesh extended a pass to Clayton Silver during the attack.  Vishal wanted to go forward and blow the ball with his fist.  Hands go to Clayton's chest.  Referee Tejas Nagbenkar immediately ordered a penalty.  East Bengal could not use that opportunity.  Clayton does not take penalties badly.  But he wasted this day.  The Mohun Bagan goalkeeper hit to Vishal's left.  But there was not much force in the shot.  Vishal jumped to the left and saved it.

After that, as the game progressed, Mohun Bagan's attack increased.  East Bengal went on the defensive.  Dimitri had a chance to score but could not capitalize on it.  After 25 minutes East Bengal's Lalchungnunga got in with a great ball.  But the ball goes off the sideline as it is tapped hard.

 Mohun Bagan scored two minutes later.  Johnny Kauko passes to Sahal Samad during Mohun Bagan attack.  The ball was cleared by the East Bengal defender but when the return ball went to Petratos, he took a low shot on the ball.  Prabsukhun Gill jumped to the right and saved the shot but could not hold the ball.  Jason Cummings put the ball in the net.  

It was clear after 10 minutes that East Bengal did not learn from the first mistake.  This time, it is Petratos behind Mohun Bagan's goal.  Attacking from the right, Petratos hit a low shot at the first post.  Hitting the bar, it returned to him again.  Surprisingly, Petratos could not be stopped despite having an East Bengal defender by his side.  As a result, Petratos took a shot as a return ball.  This time the shot was not on goal.  But the ball goes to the feet of Liston standing in space on the left.  He netted the ball with a light touch.  Hijazi Maher stood in between Petratos' pass to Liston.  He could have kicked the ball.  He just stood and watched.  

 Mohun Bagan's third goal came within ten minutes.  Nandakumar threw Liston in the box.  Whether the two collided in the box at all is debatable.  But could not stop Mohun Bagan's third goal from coming.  Petratos has a reputation for scoring penalties.  The Australian striker defeated Prabsukhan with a flat shot.

 Many did not think that East Bengal would give Mohun Bagan so much pressure in the second half.  Mohun Bagan was the first attack.  Early on, Cummings received a ball in the box and took a powerful shot.  Prabhsukhan saved the shot by jumping to the right.  After that, East Bengal's game changed.  They started attacking one after another.  At the end of 53 minutes, Crespo shot the ball with his left foot after receiving Clayton's pass from the left side.  Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal had nothing to do.

 East Bengal started playing frantically after scoring a goal.  Clayton headed in Nanda's cross from the right.  Vishal saved the ball by jumping into the void on the left side.  Mohun Bagan survived from conceding a sure goal.  But East Bengal's attack did not stop there.  Vishnu and Sion kept troubling Mohun Bagan's defense time and again.

 Mohun Bagan came back into the game after eighty minutes.  Two goals were created.  But the fourth goal did not come.  East Bengal also could not reduce the goal difference as the game ended in Mohunbagan 's favour at 3-1