Chennaiyin FC's Jeje Lalpekhlua's equaliser spared Mohun Bagan's blushes in the latest round of the Hero I-League which saw the defending champions secure top spot with bitter rivals East Bengal hot on their trail. Mohun Bagan maintained their unbeaten run in the league after playing out a 1-1 draw against Shillong Lajong FC with Jeje scoring at the hour mark to cancel out the Meghalayan club's opener and earn the Mariners a hard-earned point at the Barasat Stadium earlier in the week on Wednesday.The reigning champions' second match of the week on Saturday against Sporting Clube de Goa saw them pick maximum points courtesy of a solitary goal from skipper Yusa Katsumi which propelled his side to the top of the league.Arch-rivals East Bengal kept pace with the Mariners by registering a win against Salgaocar FC at the Barasat Stadium in an end-to-end encounter which finished 2-1 on Sunday. Mohammed Rafique (Atlético de Kolkata) opened the scoring for the Gold and Red Brigade before Darryl Duffy (Salgaocar FC) restored parity shortly after the hour mark. The winner came five minutes before full-time through Nigerian Bello Razaq. Elsewhere, Aizawl FC got their second win of the season after strikes from H. Lalmuankima and Joel Sunday helped them secure a comfortable 2-0 win against Mumbai FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Saturday.The last game of the week saw DSK Shivajians host Shillong Lajong FC at the Balewadi Sports Complex on Sunday. It ended 1-1 as both sides shared the spoils with the hosts putting on a spirited display to come from behind and get a point.Mohun Bagan currently sit pretty at the summit of the table with 18 points from eight games and have a one-point advantage over second-placed East Bengal. Bengaluru FC trail both the Kolkata clubs and sit in third place having taken 15 points from their opening eight encounters. Aizwal's second win of the season puts them a point behind Mumbai FC, who are currently in sixth spot. Salgaocar FC and DSK Shivajians prop up the league with five points from eight games.
