East Bengal Club were held to a 2-2 draw by Mumbai FC in a rescheduled Airtel I-League encounter at the Saltlake Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Following a goalless first half, former East Bengal striker Yusif Yakubu gave Mumbai the lead but a quick-fire double from Ryuji Suoeka put the hosts in front.
The red-and-gold brigade were on course to record back-to-back I-League wins for the first time this season but a late equaliser from Ashutosh Mehta earned Mumbai their 12th draw of the campaign.
Both teams set out for a fast start but East Bengal looked more likely to open the scoring with Edeh Chidi and Semilen Doungel going close as they forced saves off Mumbai keeper Kunal Sawant.
Mumbai also had their moments with Yakubu causing problems to the East Bengal backline but their only real chance came towards the end of the half when Alfred Jaryan failed to hit the target despite being unmarked in the East Bengal box.
East Bengal nearly had a great opening before the interval but Doungel was denied by last-ditch tackle from Anwar Ali.
The visitors should have taken the lead at the start of the second period when Jaryan had the goal at his mercy after Abhijit Mondal had saved Yakubu’s effort but the Liberian could only hit it straight at Abhijit.
Armando Colaco introduced both Ryuji Sueoka and Lalrindika Ralte but the deadlock was broken by Mumbai after the hour mark as Yakubu scored with a audacious 50-yard lob, which completely caught out Abhijit.
But East Bengal equalised just five minutes later as Sueoka volleyed home after a cross from Joaquim Abranches. Sueoka showed great technique to make a perfect connection to the cross and suddenly the hosts had momentum.
From East Bengal’s next attack Sueoka made it 2-1 as he latched on to a pass from Abhishek Das and slotted the ball past a helpless Sawant.
It was a remarkable turnaround for East Bengal thanks to the heroics of Sueoka and the Japanese squandered a great chance to claim his hattrick after being well set up by Lalrindika.
That miss proved to be costly as Ashutosh restored parity late on after being allowed the time and space to shoot past Abhijit.
The result keeps East Bengal nine points behind leaders Bengaluru FC with only two games in hand now while Mumbai are now four points clear of rock-bottom Mohammedan Sporting and level with two other relegation contenders – Rangdajied United and United SC – with all three teams having played the same number of games.
(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)