Mohun Bagan Super Giant maintained their stranglehold on East Bengal, registering yet another ISL derby win at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

The 2-0 margin — Bagan’s eighth triumph in the nine derbies played so far in ISL — might give the impression that it was a close contest, but in reality, the green and maroon were miles ahead of their rivals.

The gap between the two sides is widening and the league’s top-drawer clash is becoming too predictable. East Bengal — who have zero points after five matches in ISL-XI — seem to be clueless about how to buck this trend.

Jamie Maclaren put Bagan ahead in the 41st minute and substitute Dimitri Petratos made it 2-0 from the penalty in the 89th. There could have been more but for East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill who made a string of saves in the first half.

East Bengal also should be thankful to referee Tejas Nagvenkar who did not award Bagan a penalty minutes before the second goal. Greg Stewart was fouled by rival defender Anwar Ali and it was a surprise how the referee missed it.

East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill fouls Dimitri Petratos inside the box during the ISL-XI derby at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. Picture by Santosh Ghosh.

Stewart, 34, was a delight to watch. His vision, passing and understanding of the game were brilliant. Time and again he tormented East Bengal and fed the two widemen — Manvir Singh on the right and Liston Colaco on the left — with quality deliveries.

Stewart also got ample support from Anirudh Thapa who worked tirelessly in
the midfield.

In both the goals Stewart had a role. He freed Manvir on the right who put the ball inside the six-yard box and Maclaren prodded it at the near post leaving the East Bengal defence stunned.

In the second, it was his pass which Petratos was about to latch onto when Gill brought the latter down.