E Bengal edge Sporting in I-League

Written by NT Network

Thursday, 04 February 2010

MARGAO: Bengal giants East Bengal, riding on lady luck, broke the heart of Sporting Clube de Goa with a solitary goal victory in the I-League match played at Nehru stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday.

Sporting missed a barrage of chances in the first session and the local team had to pay heavily for their ineptness as the Federation Cup champions struck the winner through Yusuf Yakubu five minutes before the end to compound further the misery of their bottom-placed rivals.

Sporting’s confidence surprised East Bengal, who played second fiddle for a major part of the match. The Goans made early inroads with winger Bisheshwor Singh’s left footed drive sailing over with just five minutes on the board.

Sporting midfield controlled the pace of the match with Nigerian Michael Tayo and winger Nicholas Rodrigues joining the attack, pushing the rival defence on the backfoot. The capital city outfit created openings but striker Junior Obagmiro wasted two decent chances midway through and in the 28th minute, the Vishwas Gaonkar-coached team again came close in surging ahead as Nicholas floated a ball in the box where the lanky Nathaniel Amos out-jumped rival defender Uga Opkara to lay for Tayo who connected well but East Bengal keeper Abhra Mondal in an effort to catch the ball, lost the grasp on the ball and as Nathaniel was about to get his foot, Okpara somehow managed to clear the ball away at the expense of a corner-kick.

East Bengal survived the close shave but what was followed later was even more frustrating for Sporting. Winger Nicholas, moving down the left flank curled in a superb cross for the unmarked Nathaniel for which the gangling striker should’ve found the net blindfold but to everybody’s horror the Nigerian headed wide with a gaping goal in full view with eight minutes remaining for the break.

After the restart,East Bengal were able to get back the momentum on their side and Yakubu, latching onto a clever pass by Bhaichung Bhutia almost broke the deadlock in the 55th minute had not Sporting defender Mathew Gonsalves come up with a neat challenge to dispossess the Ghanian. With the visitors also standing up to the challenge, the local side was unable to create the chances, which were just coming so easily in the first half although striker Junior Obagmiro tried hard to get past the rival defenders.

With the match nearing the closing stages it seemed that Sporting were at least good for a point, but man of the match Alvito D’Cunha had other ideas.

The former international controlled a forward pass inside the crowded box from his skipper Syed Rahim Nabi and as rival keeper Felix D’Souza dashed out, the crafty left -footed winger immediately switched to Yakubu who had just to nod the ball into an empty net with just five minutes remaining for the final hooter.

It was a very cruel blow to the Goan side at such a late stage and after the match ended a section of the crowd vented their anger on the officials and assaulted referee A Arjunan. The police stationed at the stadium immediately swung into action and arrested one offender. (NT)

Related News:
Yakubu keeps EB smiling
Yakubu propels East Bengal past Sporting
Yakubu wins it for East Bengal
Late Yakubu Header Gives Clinical East Bengal Win Over Sporting
East Bengal beat Sporting Clube de Goa 1-0

Added by: Anselm Pio Noronha