Photo and Report By Ajay Majumder
BARASAT: East Bengal managed to squeeze past George Telegraph SC by a solitary goal victory in their CFL Premier Division – A encounter at Barasat Stadium on Thursday.
The all-important goal came in the 74th minute through Do Dong Hyun, which ultimately turned out to be the match winner and helped East Bengal to consolidate their position at the top of the CFL standings with 21 points from seven games.
Going into the game East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan made three forced changes into the starting XI from the previous match as Gurwinder Singh, Prohlad Roy and Abinash Ruidas came into the side at the expense of Arnab Mondal, Mohammed Rafique and Bikash Jairu, who are on national duty.
The game started with a slow pace restricting the action to the midfield in the initial quarter of the game. However, East Bengal seemed more determined to wrap up the match in their favour and record their seventh successive win in the league.
As the game progressed, East Bengal gradually gained control and dominated the possession. George Telegraph, on the other hand, defended deep and had their keeper SK. Maidul Islam to thank after he denied Jiten Murmu, Ruidas and Dong on several occasions as both sides went into the breather locked scoreless.
Needing a goal, East Bengal began the second half with added enthusiasm as they attacked by pushing high up, but Maidul once again came to his side’s rescue in the 58th minute when he saved Lalrindika Ralte’s long range effort.
The young keeper was well complemented by midfielder John Apmong as the Ghanaian single handedly blocked some of brilliants movements of the rival team.
East Bengal, thereafter, pressed hard looking for the opener. East Bengal’s effort finally paid off when Dong broke the deadlock in the 74th minute.
Skipper Robert Lalthlamuana combined with Lalrindika to deliver a cross inside the George Telegraph box and the later laid it for Dong, who sollted past Maidul to put his team ahead.
Having taken the lead, The Red and Golds got a much needed confidence boost and they increased their pressure up front dominating the game entirely. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities in the final quarter, once again it was lack of finishing that prevented a bigger scoreline as the game ended 1-0 in East Bengal’s favour.
East Bengal XI: Dibyendu Sarkar (GK), Rahul Bheke, Gurwinder Singh, Callum Angus, Robert Lalthalmuana (c), Prohlad Roy (Samad Ali Mallick – 60′), Mehtab Hossein, Lalrindika Ralte, Abinash Ruidas (Nikhil Poojary – 85′), Dong Hyun Do (Somide Adelaja – 93′), Jiten Murmu.
