FC Kochin sinks without a trace

KOLKATA, OCT. 2. Kingfisher East Bengal celebrated its entry into the last four stage with a glut of goals, drubbing FC Kochin 6-0, in the second quarterfinals of the 107th IFA Shield football tournament here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday.

The contest was a study in contrast as the local giant and defending champion took on the top Kerala club. The half-a- dozen goals that FC Kochin conceded without a reply made the visiting team look a mediocre side all of a sudden. The same outfit had almost pulled out a victory over Mohun Bagan in the pre- quarterfinal league stage before Bagan managed to wriggle out with a 1-1 draw.

In the match against East Bengal, FC Kochin was without the services of its Liberian striker Josiah Seton who had to sit out owing to two bookings. But one is hard placed to define what the rest of the team did to prostrate so easily before its opponent.

In a country where strengths of teams are decided by the merit of the foreign recruits, FC Kochin's failure is best described in this light. While East Bengal gained significantly from having a pack of Africans-Ghanaians Suley Musah and Jackson Agygpong in the defence and Nigerians Aowemy Isiaka and Omolaja Olalekan up front-in its ranks, Kochin was hardly served by the two Liberians-goalkeeper Best Bestman and forward Philip Karnga-who played today. Added to this was the ground condition which proved a bigger hurdle for the visitor. Both the teams confronted a sodden turf at the beginning of the match and as the spikes on the players' boots dug out the alluvium, the visiting players had a hard time keeping themselves on their feet.

The home team did not seem to be bothered as its own ground-in the city's `Maidan' area-presents a far sordid picture during the monsoons.

FC Kochin coach A.M. Sreedharan said after the match that his boys were not equipped with boots fitted with longer studs that are a must in such heavy conditions. With the rains active in these parts of the country one is hard put to explain how a team, one that came up as the first professional outfit of the country, could afford such a lay approach. Nevertheless, there is no denying the fact that East Bengal played a far superior match and FC Kochin could never bring itself up to the contest to eventually sink in a deluge of goals.

The first session did not bring up much action. Apart from Isiaka's eighth minute goal that opened the scoring for the home team, there was nothing worthwhile for the rest of the period. The home team enjoyed the superiority from the kick-off but of the numerous chances that came its way following the first goal, none was utilised as the two East Bengal forwards, Omolaja and FC Kochin recruit Joe Paul Anchery, remained wayward.

The second session really opened the floodgates for the home team. Striker Bijen Singh, playing his second match of the season after a prolonged suspension on disciplinary grounds, evolved as the hero of the match scoring a hat-trick that added to the team's magnificent scoreline. Singh, known for his sharp reflexes and a knack for goals, gave a fine display of his abilities scoring the last three goals (in 76th, 82nd and 87th minutes) of the match in a span of just 11 minutes, after he was introduced as a substitute for Anchery in the 63rd minute.

This could well be termed a powerful return from exile, which was forced upon Singh by the whims of the club officials who thought the player's decision to join the National preparatory camp for the English tour early this year was an act of indiscipline! With East Bengal struggling to find a good attack-line so far in the season, Singh's suspension shows the club's management in a poor light.

Among the five goals that came up in the final session, midfielder Dipankar Roy (57th minute) and Omolaja (64th minute) shared the two strikes before Bijen swung into action.

Wednesday presents a packed schedule with three quarterfinal matches coming up on the same day. Brazil club Palmerias starts action against Vietnam's Nam Dinh at Salt Lake Stadium in the afternoon and it will be followed by the replay of the abandoned match between Mohun Bagan and Manaksia Tollygunge Agragami under the lights.

The other match between Muktijoddha, Bangladesh and Tata Football Academy will be played at Municipal Stadium in Howrah.

East Bengal's Bijen Singh (15) puts one past FC Kochin `keeper Best Bestman to complete a hat-trick of goals in the quarterfinals of the IFA Shield football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday. FC Kochin's Mathew C. Martin is also seen, rushing to defend his citadel.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : Akram turns down offer to play in S. Africa
Next     : Sher-e-Kashmir Open from tomorrow