I-League: Sony Norde sparkles for Mohun Bagan in an intense win over arch-rivals East Bengal

So Mohun Bagan have finally won the Kolkata Derby after 743 days, their last win coming on 28th March 2015. 

East Bengal showed much intend to fight back in the second half, but the red card shown to Plaza was the real reason the game slipped for the visitors. Borges' strike late during the game proved to be too late for the disappointments they endured in the first half.

Meanwhile, Norde and Yusa shone for the home team which was the reason they looked so fluid in attack. Youngster Azharrudin Mallik also scored a smart goal to give Bagan a big boost.

So that's it from me. Thanks for tuning in this week. I hope you enjoyed the Kolkata Derby just as I did. Wishing you goodbye and a great evening, cheers!    

2 minutes of extra added time. Can East Bengal grab a consolation? 

90' Balwant and Gurdwinder involved in a tussle. 

90+2' GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALL! Rowlin Borges pulls one back for the visitors with a brilliant volley. Jeje tussles for the ball with Souvik Chakaraborty who wins it. 

THAT'S IT, THE REFEREE BLOWS THE FINAL WHISTLE! IT'S ALL OVER! 

FINAL SCORE - MOHUN BAGAN 2 - 0 EAST BENGAL

84' Chris Payne wins a free kick in the middle of the park. Five minutes of play to go!

85' Yusa makes a darting run down the right flank from the midfield and is brought down

86' CHANGE FOR EAST BENGAL! Jackichand Singh makes way for Romeo. 

87' Eduardo misplaces a pass just a foot outside the penalty box that finds Payne who slips and is eventually fouled. FREE KICK FOR EB! Can he do a Norde? 

88' Payne nets wide off the post. The Australian doesn't get the height.

89' Norde bursts down the left flank and threads a through ball which is not anticipated by the striker. 

90' CLOSE! Jeje plays a lob ball onto the striker. Rehnesh witnesses real danger and clears it out. 

73' FREE KICK FOR EB! Chris Payne shoots a powerful cross into the box from the left, but it is palmed out by Prabir who doesn't want to take any chances. 

74' Bukenya once again reaches out for the corner but it's nowhere close to the desired target. GOALKICK FOR BAGAN! 

76' YELLOW CARD FOR PAYNE! 

77' Payne plays a wrong pass to Anas before Katsumi Yusa can clear it. Yusa sends it to Balwant who has vies for the ball with Gurwinder Singh. 

79' MALLIK GETS SUBSTITUTED FOR JEJE! 

80' Rowlin misplaces a cross down the right before Mehtab Hossain finds Romeo on the right, who desperately tries to put in a cross but is let down 

82 The tempo of the game has eventually slowed down. The red card for EB in the form of Willis Plaza was indeed the turning point. Bagan look happy defending the 2-0 lead. 

82' Norde takes a powerful shot in the middle that lands straight to Rehnesh. 

61' Norde makes a marauding run down from the MB half, he plunges and turns before being brought down. What a key figure he's been for his team today. 

63' Meanwhile Norde wins a corner after Balwant almost tried to head it before TP Rehnesh holds on to Balwant's effort.Three EB defenders closing down on Norde who wins a throw in on the left flank. The delivery is headed out. 

64' CORNER FOR EB! 

64' 2ND YELLOW FOR WILLIS PLAZA! Plaza is shown is second yellow and given the marching order by the referee for a dirty challenge. 

68' Romeo tries to make a way into the MB defence but is dispossessed by Norde who plays a backheel to Kotal. The defender picks out a wrong cross that gives EB the possession.

68' DUFFY SHOOTS IT WIDE! 

69' Wedson wins possession in the middle and plays out Payne on the left who plays a straight pass to find Romeo, which is intercepted by Prabir Das. 

70' THE HEAT IS BUILDING UP FOR EAST BENGAL! Gurwinder Singh is shown a yellow for a foul on Norde 

54' East Bengal have displayed a much different attitude in the second half, showing more agressiveness and attacking intent. 

56' Ball lands to Plaza 

57' Norde charges on and finds Duffy on to the left, who again plays it to the Haitian. Bagan have a go at the goal but are overcrowded with EB defenders. It heads to Yusa who is fouled by Borges

57' OFFSIDE! Payne chips a lob over the MB defence to Arun Pillay who is well offside. 

58' Striker Chris Payne dropping deep and allowing play from the flanks, Romeo gets the ball but is dispossessed

59' Bukenya threads a long ball straight to 

60' Sehnaj Singh and Yusa Katsumi are dominating proceedings from the middle of the park for MB. 

60' Wedson is fouled on the left, just outside the penalty box. 

Welcome to the second half. 

46' Yusa lands a free kick direct into the ball, it is cleared out but eventually finds Mallik who shoots it in the stands.

47' FREE KICK FOR EB! Dangerous challenge from from Norde and Payne, who crash into each other. The Australian seems displeased with the foul and demands a booking from the referee. 

48' Yusa strings a through ball to Balwant who changes his direction and finds Kotal on the right whose cross is cleared and goes for a theow in 

East Bengal playing with more intensity in the second hald

51' CLASSY SAVE! Wedson takes a corner and reaches Bukenya who heads it into the air. Borges reaches out but heads straight at MB goalkeeper Debjit. 

52' SUBSTITUTION! Raju Gaikwad makes way for Prabir Das 

Mohun Bagan have been the team to look for in the first half and could've easily put the game to bed had they converted all of their chances. Sony Norde has been a menace on the left flank linking up with Yusa and Balwant Singh.

Bagan's Azharrudin Mallik played with much responsibility and caused havoc on right wing.

East Bengal have been competitive going forward but it is their defence that has let them down at this point. Credit be given to EB defender Bukenya who was aerially good and intercepted most of the through balls. 

Can the visitors reply in good fashion or will it be a one way traffic for Mohun Bagan? Stay tuned to find out. 

42' Great interception by Anas

​43' GOAL GOAL GOAL! BAGAN ON FIRE! 19-year-old Azharruddin Mallik has doubled the lead for the hosts. Mallik charges on towards EB defender Mehtab Hossain. Malik takes a stepover and sees Rehnesh well out of his place, to shoot it into the top left corner

MOHUN BAGAN 2 - 0 EAST BENGAL

The East Bengal fans have been silenced. 

45' Duffy is brought down by Bukenya but the referee ways play on! East Bengal playing out from the middle of the park and trying to find the defenders

46' CHANCE! Could've been 3-0 for MB as Norde rushes down the left wing and finds a pinpoint cross to Daryl Duffy who shoots straight into Rehnesh. 

37' SUBSTITUTION FOR EAST BENGAL! Veteran Australian striker Chris Payne makes way for Abhinash Ruidas. 

38' Raju takes a long throw from the left, that finds 

39' WASTED! Pritam Kotal chests a brilliant delivery from Balwant Singh but fires it wide. The East Bengal defence is caught napping again!

41' Mallik gets down the right flank and tries to make way into the box with his pace. He cuts is but is overshadowed by the East Bengal defence. Mallik choses the alternative option to play it to Kotal who sends a cross way over the post. 

31' Sehnaj Singh clutches off his ankle

32' OPPORTUNITY! Balwant Singh chests the ball marvellously with a first touch but shoots it wide. 

33' The Mohun Bagan defence is taking no chance here and are haplessly clearing the ball

33' FREE KICK! Pritam Kotal takes a long throw from the right, Bukenya clears it and gives it straight to Norde who gets pulled down. Free kick for Mohun Bagan!  

34' GOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLL! Sony Norde opens the scoring for the home team with a peach of a free kick. The Haitian wingers curls the ball into the top corner over the EB wall that is just enough to beat goalkeeper Rehnesh

MOHUN BAGAN 1 - 0 EAST BENGAL

24' Wedson charges against the EB defence before the onrushing Eduardo clears the ball that takes a deflection of Wedson

25' Raju Gaikwad is dispossed by Romeo Fernandes before the Goan wingers loses the ball cheaply to the opposition. Pritam Kotal tries to reach a pass to Balwant, but it is intercepted by Bukenya. 

27' Wedson tries to penetrate the MB defence, but Ruidas does well to keep it in. 

29' CHANCE! Great movement from Norde as he gets past Borgens but takes a long shot that is well over the bar. 

9' Corner for Mohun Bagan. Norde takes the corner, which reaches out to Eduardo in the box, who heads it over the crossbar. 

East Bengal trying to find an opening here, with Mehtab making some marauding runs towards the EB defence. 

12' EB holding midfielder Rowlin Borges produces a brilliant backheel that finds Wedson about 35 years out. Tight angle to shoot from but Wedson takes a try. 

14' CHANCE FOR ROMEO! The FC Goa winger cuts in on the right flank, baffling Yusa and takes a shoot with his left to see it wide off the post. 

1' Kick off is underway and East Bengal straight away pick a cross onto the right flank. Brilliant one-twos from Yusa and Duffy there, responding in brilliant fashion. Yusa cuts in and takes a shot 25 yards only to send it into the stands. 

2' Meanwhile, East Bengal keeper Rehnesh looks a bit in trouble. 

3' Norde produces some trickery on the left flank and puts in a cross which is handled well by Bukenya. 

4' CHANCE! East Bengal defence have been caught napping as Yusa sends a wonderful through ball straight down to Balwant Singh. The EB defenders get in time, while Balawant takes a turn and shoots straight towards Rehnesh. 

5' Romeo causes some havoc on the right before Yusa intercepts 

Both the teams have taken the field and will be firing all cyclinders to gain some crucial three points in this heated fixture . My prediction is the away team will walk away as winners courtesy of a brace from Willis Plaza, while Yusa will clinch a goal for Bagan.

A warm good evening for everyone. The Kolkata Derby is the much anticipated match of the I-League at this stage as any defeat at this stage would worsen things up for both the teams. 

I am Nicolai Nayak and I will be keeping you up to date with all the action taking place at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Kolkata.

East Bengal XI: Rehenesh(GK); Bheke, Bukenya, Gurwinder, Robert(C); Mehtab, Borges; Romeo, Wedson, Ruidas; Plaza

Mohun Bagan XI: Debjit(GK);Kotal, Anas, Eduardo, Gaikwad; Azhar, Yusa(C), Sehnaj, Norde; Balwant, Duffy.

Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal will be one hell of a cracker and all the football lovers will expect a high scoring contest on a Super Sunday.