I-League: Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 2-1 to close gap on league leaders Aizawl

Mohun Bagan rode on two superlative first-half goals from Sony Norde and Azharuddin Mallick to hand 10-men East Bengal a 2-1 defeat in a I-League tie.

Mohun Bagan rode on two superlative first-half goals from Sony Norde and Azharuddin Mallick to hand 10-men East Bengal a 2-1 defeat in a I-League tie at the Kanchenjunga Stadium on Sunday.

Norde (35th) scored from a free kick while Mallick (43rd) doubled the margin with a dinked effort from the edge of the box as Bagan trimmed the gap to one point on Aizawl who lost earlier in the day to defending champions Bengaluru FC.

Rowlin Borges pulled one back for the visitors in the second half injury time but could not force an equliser. East Bengal’s Trinidad & Tobago import Willis Plaza was given marching orders in the 66th minute.

Bagan, on 29 points after the convincing win, have a game in hand to both Aizawl and East Bengal who stayed on 27 points after 15 matches.

It was end to end stuff from the word go. Bagan got two early chances with Darryl Duffy and Balwant Singh taking a swipe at goal but of no use. At the other end, Plaza headed down a Mehtab Hossain floater for a lurking Wedson Anselme whose shot was deflected off a Bagan defender for a corner.

Norde finally broke the deadlock, curling in a delectable free kick that beat East Bengal goalkeeper. Azharuddin doubled Bagan’s tally two minutes before halftime.

East Bengal started with more intent post the break, with Payne forcing Mazumdar into a good save early on. But it was not the away side’s night as Plaza was sent off for a reckless challenge on Bagan defender Anas Edathodika.

Borges got a goal back too in second half added time but that proved to be too little too late.