Mahnidra United pocketed their first win on home soil on Sunday, edging out East Bengal 2-1 at the Cooperage in the seventh round I-league encounter.

It was an action-packed and tough day for the two India goalkeepers—Sandip Nandy, playing for Mahindra United, and Subrata Pal, guarding East Bengal.

It wasn’t the first time they were pitted against each other. and they know enough about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Nandy accorded credit where it was due, saying, “Subrata is notches above other upcoming goalkeepers in India. He is in good form and I see an opportunity to learn from him.”

Remind him about the competition between the two, and the 32-year-old custodian says, “A player can perform only if there is competition.”

Subrata Pal was more relaxed, saying, “We have played against each other a lot of times but I never think of the comparison. And when it comes to performing, I have always put in my best efforts.”

They did everything possible to save their team’s citadels.

They leapt and dived and in the process Nandy even collected a yellow card but at the end of the day he was relieved as his team collected three points.

There was a tussle for the ball from the whistle, and from the 5th minute onwards Mahindra United bagged a lot of corners and free kicks but failed to utilise them.

Hell broke for East Bengal in the 31st minute, when a harmless lob from Mahindra United’s Steven Dias rolled in for a goal. East Bengal keeper Pal and defender Debabrata Roy’s attention was diverted—rather comically— by Arata Izumi, who ran chasing the ball.

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