By Debabrata Majumder
KOLKATA: East Bengal extended their unbeaten run in the CFL Premier Division – A as they defeated Southern Samity 2-1 at Barasat Stadium on Saturday.
Jiten Murmu (35th) and Do Dong Hyun (45th) scored in the first-half for East Bengal after Southern Samity took the early lead through Basanta Singh (7th).
Going into the game East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan made four changes to the playing XI from the previous match by handing starts to Rahul Bheke, Robert Lalthlamuana, Bikash Jairu and Do Dong replacing Samad Ali Mallick, Narayan Das, Avinash Ruidas and Somide Adelaja.
Southern Samity started off well and stunned their opponents with a 7th minute strike from winger Singh. Liberian striker Taurus Manneh sent in a delightful cross from the left side for Singh, who capitalized on a East Bengal defensive lapse, and made no mistake to head the opener.
Having conceded early on, East Bengal began attacking with intensity through Do Dong, Lalrindika Ralte and Mohammad Rafique but rivals Southern Samity managed to hold on defending deep.
However Southern Samity’s resistance was finally broken in the 35th minute when Jiten headed the equaliser off an Mehtab Hossain flag-kick.
Thereafter East Bengal increased their pressure up front and dominated the game entirely. East Bengal’s pressure yielded another goal at the stroke of half-time when Do Dong put his team into the lead. East Bengal were awarded a penalty when Southern Samity’s Nagen Tamang handled Jairu’s goalbound shot inside the box and the Korean slotted from the spot to give his team a 2-1 lead.
In the second half both sides battled hard in the midfield. While East Bengal had the better chances to go further up, Southern Samity also had their chances to equalise.
Midway through the half, East Bengal went agonisingly close through Rafique, whose effort was blocked by the rival keeper Sourav Chakraborty.
Southern Samity’s responded through substitute Rooney Eva around the 70th minute mark. However the Cameroonian striker failed to keep his effort on target from an hand shaking distance.
In the remainder of the game, Southern Samity battled hard looking for the equaliser, but East Bengal managed to hold on with some solid defending as the game ended 2-1.
The result saw East Bengal continued to top the table with 18 points from six matches while Southern Samity remain on fifth with 7 points.
East Bengal XI – Luis Barreto (GK), Rahul Bheke, Arnab Mondal, Calum Angus, Robert Lalthalmuana (c) (Deepak-68′), Mohammed Rafique, Mehtab Hossein, Lalrindika Ralte, Bikash Jairu (Abinash Ruidas- 78′), Dong Hyun Do (Somide Adelaja – 68′), Jiten Murmu.
Southern Samity XI – Sourav Chakravarty (GK), Suman Hazra, Deepak Mondal (c), Celestine Echezona, Safar Sardar, Nagen Tamang, Anthony Soren, Gautam Kujur, Snehasis Chakravarty (Ashim Biswas – 51′), M Basanta Singh, Taurus (Rooney Eva-78′).
Photo By Santanu Biswas.
