Two first half headers produced a 1-1 draw in the season's maiden I-League derby between arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan before a huge crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium here Tuesday.
Cameroonian striker Pierra Boya gave Bagan the lead in the 24th minute which was nullified seven minutes later as Nigerian forward Ranti Martins headed the ball into the net.
Bagan broke the deadlock as Boya outjumped rival defenders in the box to head home a corner from Yusa. 1-0 up, Bagan sat back waiting to clear away any danger but had a difficult time doing so, as East Bengal stepped on the gas.
Thirty-one minutes into the game, the 'red and gold' brigade were rewarded for their attempts. A through ball found its way to Malsawmtluanga, whose first time box in the six-yard box found Martins who headed the ball into the net from the first post.
East Bengal now lie fourth with nine points from half a dozen engagements. From four matches, Mohun Bagan have gleaned eight points to occupy the fifth slot.
Bagan gaffer Sanjoy Sen introduced changes in the starting line up, replacing injured skipper-goalkeeper Shilton Paul with Debjit Majumder and Shouvik Ghosh with Dhanachandra Singh.
East Bengal too made changes to the side that was held to a 1-1 draw by Bharat FC in their last encounter. Lalrindika Ralte got a start in the left flank while Saumik Dey was replaced by Australian defender Milan Susak.
The opening half began at a frantic pace in front of a huge crowd with the first chance falling to East Bengal after the Nigerian duo Ranti Martins and Dudu Omagbeni combined to set up the former, but the shot ricocheted wide off Bagan custodian Majumder.
Bagan had their chances too through their Japanese playmaker Katsumi Yusa, but lacked some clinical finishing.
On the 22nd minute, East Bengal then tried their luck with mid-fielder Mehtab Hossain's ball in the box, but Harmanjot Singh Khabra's full stretch attempt failed to keep the ball on target.
A minute later it was the green and maroon's turn to breach the opponent defence, but Cameroonian forward Boya's header was thwarted from point blank range by East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal.
Both teams went to lemon time locked 1-1.
Much of the second half was lacklustre and missed the dazzle of the opening 45 minutes, with play restricted to the middle.
Dudu was through on goal twice, but could not add another for his team.
Bagan too squandered the opportunities that came their way. Neither Yusa, Nor Haitian Sony Norde could feed the passes to marksman Boya.
