Mohammedan Sporting rally
to hold East Bengal

Mohammedan Sporting staged a superb rally to hold defending champions East Bengal 3-3 in a pulsating Super Five encounter of the Kolkata Super Division football league on Thursday.

East Bengal dominated the early stages of the match. They took a 2-0 lead within eight minutes, riding on strikes from Mike Okoro and Alvito D'Cunha.

Though Reazul Mustafa converted a penalty in the 28th minutes to reduce the margin, Malswamtluanga netted for East Bengal to make the scoreline 3-1 at the breather.

Egged on by their several thousand supporters at the Salt Lake Stadium after the break, Sporting upped the ante and scored twice through teenage upfronter Syed Rahim Nabi to draw level.

Despite the draw, East Bengal continue to lead the table with 27 points from 11 games. Sporting, who have played the same number of matches, remain in second place, with 24 points.

East Bengal started off well, quickly establishing midfield control, but Sporting improved as the match wore on.

Nabi, who looked out of form in the initial minutes, came into his own in the latter half to constantly trouble the red and gold brigade's defence, which wilted under pressure.

East Bengald could have returned with full points but their Nigerian acquisition Okoro squandered a penalty in the 58th minute.