By IANS
Kolkata : Calcutta Port Trust drew 3-3 against soccer giants Mohun Bagan at a Calcutta Premier League match here Friday.
Leading 3-1 till the 76th minute, Bagan’s poor defence changed the entire complexion of the match.
Port’s veteran coach Amal Dutta outsmarted his counterpart, Brazilian Roberto Carlos Pereira, in planning the game. Bagan star striker Jose Ramirez Barreto was completely off colour and was also booked, ruling him out of the next match.
Earlier, in the 10th minute, Port stunned the capacity crowd when striker Chukwukere Henry converted a Koushik Prasad centre. Bagan equalised in the 37th minute with Puia scoring. James Singh’s freekick rebounded off the post and fell for Puia, who obliged. The Mizo striker scored his second a couple of minutes later latching on to substitute Sewram Gobin’s pass.
Bagan’s third goal came from a penalty in the 66th minute. Biswajit Kumar handled the box inside the box and Barreto scored from the spot and took his goal-scoring tally to 12.
Coach Pereira substituted Puia with Isfaq Ahmed which allowed Port players breathing space. The 77th minute saw Dipak Dalui reduced the margin off a faulty clearance from Bagan defender Habibur Rehman. Henry made it 3-3 in the added-on time.
After 10 matches Bagan have 24 points, while their nearest rival East Bengal have 22 from nine.