Kolkata: Aizawl FC forward William Lalnunfela struck a brilliant goal in the dying minutes to help his side hold East Bengal 2-2 in their thrilling I-League opener at the Salt Lake Stadium here Tuesday.
Two former Mohun Bagan teammates, Eduoardo Ferreira and Katsumi Yusa, combined well to give East Bengal the lead in the 66th minute and the latter made it 2-0 within six minutes.
After a goalless first hour, all the action centred around the second half as the reigning champions reduced the margin through their 22-year-old forward two minutes after East Bengal took a 2-0 lead. There was more misery in store for the hosts as Lalnunfela struck from a goalmouth melee in the stoppage added on time.
Earlier East Bengal broke the deadlock from a Katsumi corner which Brazilian-born centre-back Ferreira headed in after the ball had deflected off the body of Aizawl’s Brandon VL. Six minutes later they were two goals up when Mohammed Rafique’s shot took a cruel deflection of Katsumi’s body.
However, then Lalnufela struck from a Kareem Omolaja assist with a sloppy East Bengal defence on display inside the box.
East Bengal will now meet Mohun Bagan for the season’s first I-League derby, December 3 here with a point each in their bag. Mohun Bagan had also drawn their first game.
Press Trust of India
