Kolkata: Defending champions Aizwal FC scored a last minute goal to hold East Bengal to a 2-2 draw at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday. Defender Eduardo Ferreira and Katsumi Yusa scored the two goals for the home team while William Lalnunfela scored a brace for the 2016 champions, to take home with a point from their first away game.
The match sprung to life in the second-half, with as many as four goals being scored within 51 minutes of playing time after the opening-half had ended goaless. Playing in front of an sparse crowd, Aizwal dominated the proceedings early into the match, keeping more possession of the ball. With the Reds and Gold Brigade limited to counter-attacks. But for all the ball keeping and passing, Aizwal could manage just one shot on target, even as Willis Plaza squandered three clear cut chances in the first-half for East Bengal.
The first chance of the match came in the 7th minute when Mehtab Singh’s cross found Plaza inside the 6-yard box, but with the goal, a touching-distance away the Trinidad and Tobago striker falied to shoot, hit first touch letting him down. Seven minutes later he had another chance, but shot straight the goalkeeper. The 30-year-old completed a hat-trick of missed chances in the 35th minute after his shot from the edge of the box, beat Aizwal custodian Avilash, but hit the upright.
Mehtab who was quite easily exposed defensively by Ivory Coast winger Dodoz and was eventually replaced by Lalramchullova in the 37th minute.
Jamil’s boys however started the second half with more intent, testing Avilash thrice in 15 minutes, but his resolute was soon broken by former Mohun Bagan defender Eduardo whose header from a Katsumi Yusa corner gave the Red and Gold Brigade something to cheer for, with the defender getting a goal in his debut match.
Another goal within the next six minutes send the home fans into a frenzy. A Mohammad Rafique shot in the 72nd minute took a wicked deflection of former Bagan captain Yusa into the goal giving East Bengal a 2-0 lead over the defending champions.
However their joy was short lived, as Aizwal pulled one back two minutes later, through William Lalnufela’s header from a David Lalrinmuana free-kick. East Bengal defended frantically in the next few minutes, denying the away team one more goal.
But just as it looked three points were in the kitty for the Kolkata Giants, Eduardo Ferreira a hero earlier, failed to clear the ball from a Lalthathanga Khawlring corner and Lalnufela was at it again, shaking the net with his left-footed shot to silent the home fans.
The goal broke the East Bengal hearts as Aizwal managed to take home a valuable point from their first away match. The Red and Gold Brigade next play the intriguing Kolkata Derby against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan on Sunday.