Brazilian striker Douglas Da Silva signalled his return to Kolkata by scoring from a free-kick to enable title holders East Bengal hold arch-rivals Mohun Bagan 1-1 in the Kolkata Super Division football league on Sunday.

The Brazilian, who played his maiden match in the current season, came on as substitute, replacing Chandan Das at the onset of the second session. He found the mark from 22 yards to cancel Bagan's early lead through talented teenager Sunil Chhetri.

Chhetri scored in the 25th minute, driving home a stunning power-packed right-footer after playing a one-two with fellow-striker Asim Biswas during an attack which developed on the left, against the run of play.

The opening minutes had seen an East Bengal thrust and they missed two chances, with Baichung Bhutia coming close to scoring on both occasions.

But the goal acted as an elixir for Bagan, who soon seized midfield control, with Noel Wilson, Tomba Singh and Dharamjit Singh serving the team untiringly.

But East Bengal coach Subhas Bhowmick's cunning strategy of introducing Douglas combined with his Bagan counterpart Subrata Bhattacharjee's faulty decision to take off midfield livewires Noel and Tomba which saw the red and gold brigade claw back into the game.

East Bengal could have restored parity in the 65th minute itself but Shasthi Duley's shot came off the post.

East Bengal maintained the pressure and Douglas got the equaliser in the 71st minute with an in-swinging free-kick which went in the goal off a rival defender.