East Bengal spoils Bagan's party

By Our Sports Reporter

CALCUTTA, MARCH 22. Kingfisher East Bengal spoiled Mohun Bagan's celebrations with a 3-1 win in the 21st round encounter of the IV National Football League at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.

Having the NFL title in its pocket already with an unassailable lead of 44 points from 20 matches, Mohun Bagan practically had no stakes in the inconsequential match while East Bengal - the minnow among the two opponents with a tally of just 26 points - had only revenge to account for. East Bengal had lost its first leg match 0-1 against Bagan and today's victory thus settled the score. The win took East Bengal to 29 points while Bagan remained at 44.

The real animosity between the two city giants stems from their age-old rivalry. And whenever the two teams meet, the tension is at the highest. Such is the competition for distinction that it insulates the duel always as something special. The match today had all the material for a tough contest as the two teams locked horn with only the question of honour at stake. And that Mohun Bagan lost the battle eventually, gave the rival supporters enough reason to celebrate ignoring the fact that their own team is lolling in the bottom-half of the league table.

Mohun Bagan began in the right spirit and commanded the proceedings with the champions' pride. The green-and-maroon effect had the opposition restricted to defending in the initial quarter of the match. As has been the approach of East Bengal in the tournament so far, it played subdued and did not look eager enough to wrest the charge. By some effect of induction, the languor seemed to affect Mohun Bagan too and the progression of time saw the match lapse into aimless exchange in midfield.

As if by a sudden twist of fortune East Bengal was rewarded with the lead in the 20th minute. A miscued clearance by Mohun Bagan stopper-back Hussain Mustafi fetched East Bengal its second corner. And the Bagan defender should be ruing his casual approach as East Bengal succeeded in its attempted variation on the corner-kick. Instead of floating the ball directly into the Mohun Bagan goalmouth, Falguni Dutta essayed the shot to his midfield colleague Dipankar Roy on the edge of the Bagan penalty box. Roy returned with a curving centre which was headed home by the tall stopper-back Jackson Agygpong (1-0).

Mohun Bagan replied soon, getting a corner a minute later as its Nigerian forward Stephan Abarowei headed down the corner by R.P. Singh and had Brazilian Jose Rameirez Barreto finishing with a neat side-volley (1-1). In what turned out to be a span of super six minutes of action, East Bengal regained the lead in the 26th minute through a Falguni Dutta pile-driver that beat the Bagan goalkeeper, Arpan Dey, all ends up (2-1).

The second session saw East Bengal retain its sharpness in counter offensives and despite having Bagan in its own half for most of the occasion, the third goal never looked impossible. After its forward Bijen Singh had spluttered on two close chances at the Mohun Bagan goalmouth, Falguni Dutta had to relinquish his slot as the right-back again to ensure his team's victory.

Dutta scored his second and the team's third in the 79th minute on a solo effort after he was reached open on the right by a defensive clearance (3-1). Bagan too had its share of opportunities but the attempts at goal were all foiled by injudicious play at the opposition goalmouth.

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