Mohun Bagan SG 2-2 East Bengal Highlights, ISL 2023-24: Petratos equalises after Cleiton’s goal, Kolkata derby updates

A late goal by Dimitri Petratos sees Mohun Bagan Super Giant salvage a point in the Kolkata derby. East Bengal, on the other hand, earned its first-ever point against the Mariners in the Indian Super League. 

East Bengal’s Vanspaul wins the ball in the midfield and threads a through ball for Nandha, who shoots off-target. 

End to end stuff in the Kolkata derby as both sides trying everything from set-pieces to get the lead. While the Mariners cleared the ball first, East Bengal was there to block the attempt from the corner in the next minute.

East Bengal gets a corner after Mandar’s shot is blocked by Glan Martins. Cleiton Silva’s corner kick is kicked out for another one on the other side of goal.

Mohun Bagan catches East Bengal napping and Manvir cross from the right. And after a pinball of sorts in the box, Petratos gets the ball and buries it into the back of the net to make it all level in this contest.

East Bengal is now looking to slow the game down to run down the clock. This, is the score remains, will be consecutive derby wins for East Bengal in a long long time. 

Mohun Bagan is keeping a defender stuck to the forwards and that sees Pardo, a defender, make a forward run and take another shot, which goes off-target.

Manvir is making continuous runs along the flanks, looking to set up Petratos and Cummings, while Vishnu does really well to force out a corner with a block.

Manvir gets the ball along the right flank, passes it to Petratos and then gets it back for a cross to the centre. However, the ball lands safely in the gloves of Prabhsukhan Gill.

Manvir comes close to scoring in the box but is surrounded by East Bengal shirts, getting the ball off him eventually. 

The match resumes after a drinks break and East Bengal is maintaining a heavy low block for the last quarter of the match. If the score remains like this, East Bengal would register its first-ever win against Mohun Bagan in the ISL.

Mohun Bagan looks to score as a long ball almost lands on the boot of Cummings. But East Bengal dispossesses him and then EBFC goes in attack on the other side. Pardo takes a shot from outside the box, forcing a reflex save by Kaith.

Cleiton wins the ball, passes to Vishnu, who gets the ball to Nandha. Nandha sets up Edwin, who shoots just off-target.

Sumit Rathi and Jason Cummings replace Deepak Tangri and Anirudh Thapa for Mohun Bagan SG while VP Suhair and Edwin are subbed on for East Bengal. 

After Mohun Bagan thwarts EBFC’s free-kick, it tries to attack on the counter but Mandar is there to contain the development.

Another injury scare for an Indian international! Naorem Mahesh Singh looks to have picked up some form of concussion after his head hit the calf of Subhasish Bose. East Bengal’s medical team rushes to assist him immediately.

Cuadrat introduces more fresh legs, with Vishnu replacing Sayan Banerjee. Petratos takes the free-kick, which is cleared by East Bengal.

Mohun Bagan gets a free-kick and Petratos pushes Sayan to the ground and players get into a scuffle. The referee separates the two sets of players to resume play.

East Bengal tries to attack against the run of play with Mahesh making a run from the midfield. Martins, who replaced an injured Brendan, tries to stop him and ends up conceding a foul and a yellow card to his name.

Mohun Bagan looks slightly disarrayed, after losing two of its regular centre-backs to injury and now, Armando Sadiku gets into the book for a yellow card, keeping him out of action in the next game.

Cleiton Silva takes the penalty and scores with a panenk! Nerves of steel by the Brazilian who puts the Red-and-Gold brigade ahead.

East Bengal attacks on the counter with Cleiton Silva getting the ball forward to Nandha, who crosses to the left. Though Sayan misses the cross, the referee points to the spot as Tangri pushed Mahesh down in the box. He gets a booking and suspension for accumulation of cards

Mohun Bagan goes for another attack with Petratos making an overlapping run into the box. His cross is somehow cleared right on time by Lalchungnunga in what looked like a very close opportunity for the Mariners to get ahead.

Mohun Bagan gets a free-kick after Nishu fouls Sadiku. Petratos takes the free-kick, which is stopped by the first EBFC defender itself. East Bengal tries to attack on the counter but as MBSG gets the ball back, Chhetri fouls Hamill from behind. He is lucky to get justa yellow card for the rash tackle.

It took just 33 seconds for Mohun Bagan to restart from where it ended the first half. Petratos gets a cross from the left and he pokes the ball in the box, forcing a regulation save by Gill.

Both teams take the field for the second half and Manvir Singh replaces Kiyan Nassiri at half-time as the only substitution for either side in the match.

A goal from Ajay Chhetri and Armandi Sadiku, for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG, respectively, keeps the contest on level terms.

East Bengal is looking to run the clock down, with a few minutes remaining in the first half. It tries a last attack on the left but Nishu Kumar is caught offside.

Mohun Bagan, after the early goal concession has looked in control of ball possession but East Bengal almost scores again when Nishu’s cross arrives from the left. But before Nandha got to it, Kaith intercepts.

Kiyan floats in a cross into the box. Deepak wins it to set up Sadiku in the box. But the Albania’s shot flies off-target. How did that stay out!

East Bengal tries to build from the back and Nandha threads a through ball for Rakip, who loses control of the ball on the MBSG touchline, giving a goal-kick to the Mariners.

East Bengal’s compact defence forces Sadiku to try and go for the magnificent. Sahal dribbles past three East Bengal players and passes it to Sadiku, who shoots over the net.

This is absolutely beautiful football from Mohun Bagan. Petratos and Sadiku combine with the latter flicking a ball over East Bengal’s defence to Sahal but his final cross is cleared by Pardo.

Subhasish pushed Nandha out of the field and Cleiton appeals for a card. The referee pushed him far and then books Bose for the rash challenge.

Mohun Bagan tries to attack on the counter with Petratos combining with Sadiku. But the latter is ruled off-side to put that attack to bed.

Mohun Bagan gets a free-kick which Petratos takes but East Bengal clears that again. Cuadrat’s side has benefitted a lot from Pardo’s presence, who been a mountain in defence so far

East Bengal tries to start an attack from the right flank, opposite to what produced its first goal. But Mohun Bagan is maintaining a tight marking and contains the danger really well.

Petratos and Kiyan combine to get the ball up the pitch, with the latter threading a pass for Hamill. But his cross is cleared by East Bengal.

Petratos tries to march up the pitch but Pardo stops him in his tracks to end that build up. 

Subhasish tries to deliver a long ball for Sadiku in front. But the ball is overhit as it lands comfortably in the gloves of Gill. Seconds later, Sadiku tries a right-footed hit from outside the box, which is again saved by Gill.

Sayan makes a run along the left but fails to deliver a cross, with the development ending with a goal kick for Mohun Bagan.

East Bengal replaces Saul Crespo for Sayan Banerjee as Cuadrat looks to shuffle his pack. The real reason of the change is still unclear, as Crespo was an important piece of the coach’s puzzle.

Mohun Bagan attacks along the right flank, with Brendan Hamill floating in a cross for Sadiku, who shoots into the net to make it all square in the Kolkata derby.

Nishu Kumar, who has been plying his trade in the Calcutta Football League with the Kolkata-based side, has impressed so far in the match. 

Mohun Bagan dealt with a major injury blow as centre-back Anwar Ali leaves the field with a problem in his left hamstring. Amandeep replaces him at the back.

Anwar Ali looks to be holding his left hamstring as he tries to stop Saul Crespo. He sits down, receiving medical assistance from the MBSG team but if it is a hamstring, it will be heartbreak for the centre-back. He has just returned from an ankle injury.

East Bengal tries another attack with Pardo shooting from distance. The ball flies over the net. In the corner that follows, Cleiton’s kick is cleared by Kiyan.

Mohun Bagan tries to attack with long balls. Sahal gets a cross from the right and he heads it for Sadiku in the centre. But Lalchungnunga marks him well to deny any chance as the Albanian’s appeals for a penalty goes in vain.

Mohun Bagan, which has won all games against its rival in the league so far, is shell-shocked with the early strike and will try and get back into the game as soon as possible.

East Bengal tries an attack from the left flank. Mahesh gets the ball to Nishu, who crosses for Ajay in the box, who sticks his leg out and shoots into the net. Mohun Bagan’s defence was caught napping and suffers the consequence immediately.

Mahesh earns another foul close to the box as Bose’s late challenge brings him down and East Bengal gets a set-piece chance. MBSG clears the ball and Nassiri tries to attack on the counter but he is stopped in his tracks.

East Bengal gets a free-kick within seconds with Mahesh pushed to the ground by Brendan. 

East Bengal gets the ball rolling in the Kolkata derby tonight. The Mariners are playing from right to left, while the Red-and-Gold brigade start from the other side.

Players of both teams walk out of the tunnel amid raucous cheers and chants from fans of both clubs. The teams line-up for the national anthem. We are almost there into the match!

Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal head coach:

We know that it is going to be a very difficult game. When you are facing a coach who is playing his first game with a team, it becomes a challenge to know what strategy he would employ.

We are looking for a victory and we will see if we can get more men in numbers for attack.

Antonio Lopez Habas, Mohun Bagan Super Giant head coach:

I think tonight is another derby. The quality is there in both teams and we have to work hard to secure a win. I think Juan did a fantastic job here. But now, by job is to change the circumstances the team is in at the moment. The past is the past and I am only thinking about the present.

Mohun Bagan SG: L W W L L 

East Bengal: W W W W W

Both the teams have taken the field for warm-ups. As fans make their way into the stadium, only a few minutes remain for the ‘Boro Match’ to begin. 

Mohun Bagan SG’s fans are making themselves heard with chants and songs as their club looks to bounce back after losing the previous derby.

The oldest football rivalry of India will see its fourth edition of the season when Mohun Bagan Super Giant looks to regain bragging rights from East Bengal in their usual battleground, the Salt Lake Stadium, on Saturday.

Fresh from its triumph in the Kalinga Super Cup, where it comfortably beat its traditional rival in the group stage to reach the semifinals, East Bengal has considerably gained in strength compared to the Durand Cup final (in September last year) when it had lost to its footballing bête noir. 

This is the first time the two city rivals are meeting in the Indian Super League – 10 (the first meeting scheduled on October 28 was postponed), which will make the contest even more absorbing In the context of their previous two ‘Cup’ events appearances.

Read the full preview HERE.