Debutants Pintu Mahato, Jhonny Acosta star in a 2-2 Kolkata derby draw

In a match World Cupper Jhonny Acosta became the first footballer since Noor Mohamed in 1963 to score a goal in his Indian football debut at the Kolkata derby, another debutant Pintu Mahato stole the show as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan settled for a 2-2 draw at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday.

The Costa Rican defender, who arrived just a week ago and was making his debut at the all-important Calcutta Football League encounter looked rusty, making several mispasses – that started with his first pass of the match to Kassim Aidara – but ensured East Bengal’s turnaround with a rather unfortunate goal at the brisk of half-time.

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It was not just him, but an exodus of experienced players that failed to live up to the hype of Asia’s biggest derby clash.

And so it was a 21-year-old Pintu Mahato, who first set the Kolkata derby ablaze. Mahato scored his maiden goal from an Arijit Bagui flick in the 19^th minute. Constantly troubling Lalramchullova on the right flank, Bagui found acres of space to flick one into the box, which escaped both the East Bengal center-backs, before Mahato volleyed the ball past Rakshit Dagar.

He never looked short of confidence throughout the match and in the company of another 21-year-old Sourav Das, ensured Bagan’s midfield dominance in the opening half, a period the Green and Maroons should have scored four. Instead, they managed to score two – the second coming from Henry Kisekka in the 29^th minute.

Bagui once again was at the center of things, when his cross for the second time in 10 minutes escaped the East Bengal center-back duo of Acosta and Mehtab Singh, before falling for Kisekka, who scored with a repeat volley to put Bagan 2-0 ahead.

But just as the match looked to be slipping one way, East Bengal found a lifeline courtesy their most high-profile player Acosta. Brandon Vanlalremdika’s cross was headed by Acosta straight into goalkeeper Shilton Paul’s path but the goalkeeper’s butter-fingers allowed the ball to slip, guiding it towards the goal after a clearance hit the central defender’s face.

It opened up the game again and East Bengal looked a different side in the second half. Once again it was from the set-piece that the Red and Golds bounced back. Lalrandika inswinger from a corner was straight at goal and although Paul saved it, Laladanmawia was at hand to shoot it at goal from six-yards out.