HOWRAH: Mohammedan Sporting Club and East Bengal played out a 1-1 draw in a pre season friendly match, played at the Howrah Stadium on Friday.
East Bengal drew the first blood through Mohammed Rafique. However, there is some controversy surrounding the goal as Jiten Murmu dragged the ball from at least 10-inches outside the touch line before playing it for Narayan Das who set up Rafique to head the opener in the 33rd minute.
Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC did have their moments in the first session. The best chance of the half fell for Dipankar Das in the 39th minute, but the lanky midfielder failed to keep his effort on target from handshaking distance, as the scores read 1-0 for East Bengal at the break.
After chages of ends, Mohammedan SC looked more purposeful. The attacking trio of Leonce Dodoz, Manvir Singh and Dipendu Dowary ran riot against a formidable East Bengal defense, and East Bengal citadel lived dangerously as Manvir and Dipankar missed back to back chances to equalize in just span of three minutes.
After several missed chances, Mohammedan SC’s efforts finally bore fruit when Dodoz equalised in the 63rd minute. Dowary ran past his marker on the right side and played the ball for Manvir whose effort was blocked by East Bengal defender Arnab Mondal, but Dodoz, who was at the right place at the right time, made no mistake in slotting the rebound home.
Thereafter, Mohammedan SC had few more chances to score the winner but East Bengal defended strongly to hold the Black Panthers for a 1-1 draw.
Mohammedan SC XI: Vinay Singh (GK), Nitesh Chhikara, Rana Gharami (c), Lancine Toure, Kamran Farooque, Dipendu Dowray, Mumtaz Akhtar, Dipankar Das, Imarn Khan, Manvir Singh, Leonce Dodoz.
East Bengal XI: Luis Barreto (GK), Samad Ali Mallick, Calum Angus, Gurwinder Singh, Narayan Das, Avinash Ruidas, Mehtab Hossain, Mohammed Rafique, Do Dong Hyun, Lalrindika Ralte, Jiten Murmu.
