Putting up a much improved display, local outfit Indian Bank held defending champions East Bengal to a 1-1 draw in a National Football League match in Chennai on Monday.

East Bengal went into the lead in the 22nd minute through a penalty kick conversion by Brazilian Christiano Junior.

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The Bankmen restored parity in the 25th minute through a peach of a goal by Sri Lankan defender, Kamaldeen Fuard.

East Bengal took their tally to 15 points, while Indian Bank, on two points, remain at the bottom of the table.

The bankmen, who had lost seven matches and drawn one prior to this match, played superbly against the defending champions as they did against the same team before going down 2-3 in the league phase in the Durand Cup last October.

East Bengal launched a full-fledged attack in the last five minutes but in vain.

In the dying minutes, East Bengal were without the services of captain Deepak Kumar Mondal, who was sent out after being shown the second yellow card for "intentional tripping of rival players" and played with just nine stars in the last three minutes since substitute Dipankar Roy was injured.

It was a creditable performance by the bankmen, who saw more of the ball but could not dent the reputation of East Bengal though Baichang Bhutia's absence (due to two yellow cards) was felt.

East Bengal were able to score against the run of play when Junior was brought down inside the box by Rakesh Kumar Pandey and the former converted the resultant spot kick.

Three minutes later, Fuard found the equaliser with a superb goal. His 40-yard powerful right-footer went in, grazing the head of defender Mahesh Gawli.