Mohun Bagan Super Giant rode a superlative first-half performance by the enterprising Dimitri Petratos to prevail over arch-rivals Emami East Bengal 3-1 in the ISL Derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.
Petratos did not only score, but also had a hand in his team's other two goals by Jason Cummings and Liston Colaco. The win put Bagan at the top of the standings with 36 points, ahead of Mumbai City FC by virtue of a better goal difference.
A Saul Crespo solo effort in the 53rd minute was East Bengal's only consolation.
East Bengal had an early opportunity to put Bagan under pressure when a foul from goalie Vishal Kaith on a goalbound Cleiton Silva earned them a penalty in the 12th minute. But Kaith ensured to make amends as he blocked Cleiton’s feeble right-footer diving to the right.
From thereon, Bagan simply bossed the remainder of the first half. They went ahead a little before the half-hour mark when Cummings was in the right position in the right time to slot home a rebound after Petratos’s right-footed grounder was deflected straight to the Australian World Cupper by East Bengal goalie Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. The opportunist that Cummings is, he didn't miss such a chance.
In the 37th minute, it was 2-0 to Bagan, thanks to some horrendous defending from East Bengal. A shot from Petratos came off the vertical and he quickly passed it to an unmarked Liston, who comfortably pushed the ball home.
Making matters worse for East Bengal, Nandhakumar Sekar fouled Sahal Abdul Samad and conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Petratos then walked up to convert from the spot and tripled Bagan’s lead.
East Bengal looked dead and buried, while it seemed Bagan were in with a great chance to avenge their embarrassing 0-5 loss to the red-and-gold brigade in the 1975 IFA Shield final. That wasn’t to be though as East Bengal put in a better performance after the change of ends with Crespo reducing the margin with a superb left-footed volley.
East Bengal were also denied a penalty towards the end when Vishnu Puthiya was clearly fouled inside the box by A. Raghuvanshi. Instead, Vishnu was booked by the referee for an alleged dive.
However, it was clearly Bagan's day and they walked away with a convincing win.
