Kolkata/UNI: A goal each half earned Mohun Bagan season's first derby honour with 2-1 triumph over their traditional and arch rivals East Bengal in the Hero I League play at the packed Salt Lake stadium here on Sunday.
Joseba Beitia took Mohun Bagan ahead with his powerful header in the 18th minute after Nongdamba Naorem wiggled into the box and his cross was punched away by the keeper.
But the ball came to unmarked Beitia, who headed in for the Mariners as club fans roared to the goal.
After the breather Mohun Bagan mounted fresh pressure on the rivals to increase the lead and the goal was achieved twenty minutes later when Baba Diawara headed in from Beitia's corner. The Bagan fans made their voice heard before the Spanaird took the corner and the goal has taken the noise to another level in the derby, which has been billed as the penultimate one before the century-old Mohun Bagan merged to ISL franchise ATK and play Indian Super League football from 2021.
East Bengal, also celebrating their centenary year of 2020, got a consolation goal in the 72nd minute from Marcos Espada's low shot following a pass from Edmund Lalrindika.
The glorious win in the derby put Mohun Bagan farther into the lead atop the table with 17 points from 8 games, five consecutive victory in six unbeaten matches and East Bengal remain on the sixth position. EB have 8 points from from 7 games, with three losses on trot. The return derby is fixed for March 15.
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