The Hindu : East Bengal defeats Vasco

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 12, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

East Bengal defeats Vasco

KOLKATA, MARCH 11 . East Bengal staved off a spirited second half challenge from Vasco Sports Club of Goa to win the 14th round match of the Coca-Cola VIII National Football League 1-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Thursday. Cristiano Junior netted East Bengal's winner at the stroke of halftime, thanks to a flying header off substitute Alvito D'Cunha's free-kick.

The victory took East Bengal to the top of the league standing with 30 points, while Vasco stayed on 17 from 14 matches. Dempo Sports Club of Goa was second with 27 points and the clash between East Bengal and Dempo on Sunday would be crucial for both.

East Bengal, which managed to hold Vasco in their first meeting 1-1, was lucky to emerge winner. Douglas Santos, who returned to play full time after injury laid him low for more than two months, looked rusty. Nevertheless he enjoyed his stint in the middle with some fine playmaking and defensive screening. With the East Bengal's defence giving nothing away, Vasco could hardly trouble the rival stand-in skipper, Sangram Mukherjee, under the bar.

But the twin substitution of Baichung Bhutia with Debjit Ghosh and Mike Okoro with K. Kulolthungan, after the second quarter of the second session upset East Bengal's rhythm. Vasco seized the opportunity to come up with a sustained effort and mounted a number of sorties on the East Bengal citadel. Mukherjee effected at least three saves; the one against substitute Levy Coelho in a one-to-one situation was superb.

East Bengal missed the services of captain Dipak Mondal in the defence, who was out on one-match ban owing to a red card booking in the previous match.

East Bengal forwards came close to scoring twice in the last five minutes. First D'Cunha's solo run produced a fine low cross. It rolled across the Vasco goalmouth with none to attend the sharp chance. A little later, Douglas fed Junior on the left. The latter placed the ball wide off the mark instead of squaring the ball to an unmarked Douglas.

— Our Special

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