CALCUTTA (India): Real Kashmir held East Bengal to a 1-1 draw in their first match of the I-League 2019-20 season at the Kalyani Stadium near here on Wednesday.
Gnohere Krizo gave the visitors the lead in the 33rd minute, but Marcos De La Espada’s cancelled it out in the 77th minute to save the hosts from blushes.
East Bengal started the match in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Marcos spearheading the attack and Jaime Santos Colado operating right behind him.
Kashmir David Robertson opted for a traditional 4-4-2 with Krizo Kallum Michael upfront.
They held onto their slender lead at the end of the first 45 minutes, but East Bengal regained confidence in the second half.
In the 59th minute, the home side stitched another opportunity from a set-piece but young defender Mehtab Singh failed to capitalise.
In the 67th minute, East Bengal coach Alejandro Garcia introduced Abhijit Sarkar at the expense of defender Kamalpreet Singh.
The decision paid dividends as the red and gold brigade were able to exert pressure on Kashmir.
East Bengal will now travel to Ludhiana where they face former champions Punjab FC on December 7.
