Two early goals saw Chennaiyin race into a considerable lead against a struggling East Bengal on Wednesday night at Tilak Maidan. However, the Red and Gold Brigade retaliated and equalized in the 91st minute to take a point home.
Nothing short of a miracle will propel East Bengal into the top four of the Indian Super League, but a point against a tame Chennaiyin did, at least, help them climb off the foot of the table. Mario Rivera’s men fell behind by two goals with barely a sixth of the match played, but a steady supply of shots on the opposition goal, which by the end had risen into mid-twenties, helped them keep the pressure up and mount a late comeback.
Barely a minute had passed when Hira Mondal inadvertently turned the ball past his goalkeeper. The defender was unlucky, as he deflected a stray header from Syed Suhail Pasha off a teasing Jerry Lalrinzuala cross into his own net – and East Bengal were behind.
Minutes later, at the other end, an opportunity presented itself to Marcelo Ribeiro as he intercepted a pass from Mohammad Sajid Dhot on the edge of the box, but the forward’s following shot was just wide of the post.
Chennaiyin doubled their lead in the 14th minute. Ninthoinganba Meetei intercepted a poor pass out from the back by Mondal and shielded the ball from Wahengbam Angousana Luwang. Ninthoi, then, knocked the ball into space, past his marker, and arrowed it in from the right side of the box into the opposite top corner.
East Bengal’s response to falling two goals behind was lots of efforts – most of them low-probability shots from distance – at the opposition goal. Their shot counter was already creeping up to the twenties when Darren Sidoel finally made one count from a dead-ball situation.
The former Ajax man curled a wonderful free-kick past Debjit Majumder from just outside the box, giving his team a lease of life heading into the final half-hour.
Debjit prevented East Bengal from equalizing in the ninetieth minute, clawing the ball away to safety after it deflected off Ariel Borysiuk on its way towards the goal. However, the goalkeeper was rooted to his spot when, a minute later, Lalrinliana Hnamte headed the subsequent corner into the far corner, leveling the match and rescuing a point for the strugglers.
