KOLKATA: Ivan Bukenya scored the equaliser a minute from the end to help East Bengal hold Aizawl FC 1-1 in the opening match of the Hero I-League at the Vidyasagar Stadium, Barasat on Saturday.
The Ugandan defender, who came in as a late substitute, made the perfect debut for East Bengal as he cancelled the own-goal scored by the man he replaced — Gurwinder Singh.
Starting with just one foreigner in Haitian Wedson Anselme, East Bengal hit the doldrums in the opening half which saw more of midfield activity.
The first attempt came in the 15th minute when Anselme’s effort went straight into the hands of Aizawl goalkeeper Albino Gomes.
After the Haitian forward had missed another chance around the half-hour mark, the first session ended in an anti-climax with Gurwinder Singh scoring the own-goal.
Aizawl forward Jayesh Rane found colleague Stephane Bayi inside the East Bengal box, but the latter ran into three defenders.
Just as the Ivory Coast striker was searching for a corridor Gurwinder ended up sending the ball into his own goal in the haste to clear it.
East Bengal had to work extremely hard to neutralise Gurwinder’s mistake as Aizawl tightened its defence, employing more men in the back after the break.
Aizawl could well have made it 2-0 but Alfred Jaryan’s header early in the second half came off the crosspiece.
With the team’s attack making little headway, East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan was practically forced to employ the full quota of foreigners in the second half.
Trinidad & Tobago striker Willis Plaza, who arrived barely 48 hours before the match, replaced Jackichand Singh. Plaza almost found the target in the 80th minute but for a spectacular save by Gomes.
Finally, Bukenya found the equaliser in the 89th minute nodding home a corner from Abinash Ruidas to save the day for East Bengal.
The result: East Bengal 1 (Ivan Bukenya 89) drew with Aizawl FC 1 (Gurwinder Singh 45+1-og).
