The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal, Bagan share points

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 19, 2004

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Sport - Football

East Bengal, Bagan share points

KOLKATA, JULY 18. The season's first match between the two local giants ended with honours even as the defending champion Kingfisher East Bengal held Mohun Bagan 1-1 in a Calcutta Football League's super division encounter here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

Having worked out a major overhaul in the line up, Mohun Bagan appeared to ward off the ghost of two failed seasons with a confident showing against the most successful club of the country. East Bengal began on an aggressive note creating openings at will. But with Baichung Bhuita not finding his striking skills, East Bengal's chances went waste.

Mohun Bagan's initiative paid off in the 26th minute as its diminutive striker Sunil Chhetri, making most of a move by the team's new schemer Noel Wilson, found the target in the 26th minute.

The parity was restored as East Bengal's Brazilian gamemaker, Douglas Da Silva, found the Mohun Bagan net from a freekick in the 71st minute.

The drawn result helped both the teams remain on top of the standings with seven points each earned from three matches. — Our Sports Reporter

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