Date:17/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041762632400.htm

Sport - Football

East Bengal loses

KOLKATA: Jordan’s Al Wihdat defeated East Bengal 4-2 on Wednesday. The fourth-round Group B league match of the AFC Cup virtually became a one-sided affair with the host surrendering meekly to the Jordan league champion.

Having beaten Al Wihdat 2-0 in Jordan on April 2, the expectations of an encore on home turf ran high in the East Bengal ranks. With six points from two wins in last three rounds the host looked to increase its lead in the group table and brighten its quarterfinal chances.

The action was virtually over by the first 34th minute, by which time Al Wihdat had earned a decisive 4-2 lead.

Al Wihdat’s Rafat Jaber scored the first goal in the sixth minute. East Bengal’s Syed Rahim Nabi equalised in the 11th minute off a pass from Edmilson Marques. Jaber scored in the 23rd minute for the visitor.

East Bengal’s reply came in the 27th minute in a spectacular manner as Edmilson took a floater with his right foot and sent the ball into the Al Wihdat net with a right-footed half-volley to make it 2-2.