Friday, Jan 23, 2004
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Football
By Our Sports Reporter
KOLKATA, JAN. 22. Defending champion Kingfisher East Bengal completed its first phase on a bright note beating arch-rival Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the 11th round match of the Coca Cola sponsored VIII National Football League here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday. With its sixth win East Bengal tied with the table topper Dempo SC of Goa on 21 points. Dempo, however, has played a match less than the Kolkata giant and the final league standing will be clear only after the former plays its last match against Churchill Brothers at Margao on Friday. In a field of 12 teams, three-time champion Mohun Bagan conceded its fifth defeat in 11 outings to remain stuck in the ninth spot with a tally of 14 points gained from four wins and two draws. Despite the three goals, the action remained largely mediocre. Mohun Bagan, without its star Brazilian striker Jose Barreto and recurring administrative squabbles, put up a strong challenge. It was Bagan which had the first sight of the goal but the 14th minute opportunity did not fructify as the East Bengal custodian Sangram Mukherjee effected a brilliant save thwarting a rasping left-footer from the Brazilian recruit Eduardo. Mohun Bagan piled on the pressure but failed to find the mark. It was Dipankar Roy, being used as a defensive half, who helped East Bengal get its first goal. Doubling up as an attacker on the overlap he scored in the 24th minute. Roy, who was not very convincing with his right-footer, was fortunate to see his shot being deflected off the Mohun Bagan defender Harpreet Singh therby foxing the opponent custodian Bilifang Narzary. Mohun Bagan fought back and scored the equaliser in the 44th minute though Ashim Biswas, who headed home a floater from Eduardo. With honours even in the second session, Bagan tended to sacrifice its offensive start for a defence oriented approach. East Bengal utilised the advantage well by getting the winner in the 75th minute. Nigerian Mike Okoro headed home the goal after substitute Alvito D'Cunha swerved the ball nicely to him while taking a corner.
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