Mohun Bagan turned tables on East Bengal, defeating the title contenders by a lone goal, scored by star striker Baichung Bhutia, in the IFA Premier Division Football League in Kolkata on Saturday.
Considered the favourites before the derby at Salt Lake stadium under floodlights, East Bengal dominated the proceedings for most part of the game, but failed to score from the many opportunities it got in both the halves.
Bhutia, who switched to Bagan from East Bengal in the inter-club transfers this year, rose to the occasion to score his first goal for the green and maroon brigade in the 39th minute of the game, against the run of the play.
Receiving a pass from Mehrajuddin, Bhutia flicked the ball to the right of the advancing East Bengal custodian and it entered the goal after hitting the inside of the post.
Just three minutes later, another shot by the Sikkim striker hit an East Bengal defender and went out.
An appeal by the Bagan players for a penalty, claiming that the ball had hit the hand of the defender before going out. was rejected by the referee.
Bagan's custodian Sangram Mukherjee, who brought off a number of saves, was adjudged the man of the match.
East Bengal have 12 points from five games, while Bagan have eight from six.
East Bengal are a point behind Mohammedan Sporting, who have 11 points from five matches.
