East Bengal squandered chances galore and ended up a playing a goal-less draw against JCT in their round three I-League encounter at the flood-lit Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK) in Kolkata on Sunday.
With one point from their second drawn match, the Kolkata giants now have two points from three matches.
The one point, on the other hand, enabled JCT to consolidate their position on top of the table with seven points from three matches.
East Bengal's Bhaichung Bhutia had a bad day in office and the Indian captain was replaced, six minutes before regulation.
Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu partnered Bhutia in front of goal, but the combination failed to create any magic amd yield a result.
The boys from Bengal enjoyed a higher percentage of ball possession and had more chances than JCT, who were looking for a hat-trick of wins.
However, Bhutia made a hash of a first chance at goal in the sixth minute itself. Yakubu sent in a pass to Nabi who rallied it to Bhutia. All he had to do was tap in the ball, but Bhutia shot wide.
JCT was not given enough feel of the ball. East Bengal stepped up the attack with Sanju Pradhan doing all the feeding as well as making constant runs into the rival box. But Bhutia was a let down as he struggled to convert the chances.
It was all East Bengal in the first session with JCT hardly getting a feel of the ball but the defence was rock-solid, denying East Bengal any chance to score.
The script did not change even at the change of ends as East Bengal continued to miss opportunities.
JCT hardly got any chance but the side will however return on a happy note, having held East Bengal in an away clash and take home one point.
JCT defender Sunil Kumar was adjudged Man of the Match.
Dempo thrash Lajong 4-1
Hosts Dempo Sports Club registered an easy 4-1 victory over debutants Shillong Lajong in their third round I-League match at the Nehru Stadium in Margao on Sunday.
Dempo, who led 3-0 at half time, scored through Anthony Fernandes (5th), Roberto D'silva (12th) and Sunil Chhetri (42nd, 55th).
Shillong Lajong pulled one back through James Gbilee in the 53rd minute.
The win, their second in the tournament, took Dempo to seven points from three matches, while Shillong Lajong who suffered their second loss have three points from as many matches.
