The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal in semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 04, 2004

Sport

Sport - Football

East Bengal in semifinals

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, OCT. 3. Another fine display enabled East Bengal to top group B with an all-win record and enter the semifinals of the 110th IFA Shield at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday. East Bengal defeated Bangladesh's Muktijoddha Sangsad SC 3-0. Brazilian Paulo Roberto da Silva got the first two and Dipankar Roy scored the other.

Exhibiting terrific understanding East Bengal made the Dhaka team look ordinary. Tight defence and an imaginative midfield made East Bengal a superior outfit. The only problem was in the striking area where the lone striker Paulo was found wanting. But for this, East Bengal would have scored at least three more.

Muktijoddha fielded seven National team players and yet failed to impress. After the initial scrimmage, East Bengal went on the offensive opening the rival defence repeatedly. With the other Brazilian Douglas Silva Dos Santos initiating all the moves from midfield, Paulo failed to beat the rival custodian Aminul Haque in a one-to-one situation in the 17th minute.

A Douglas header found Paulo enjoying a free run into the rival penalty box but a brave Haque charged out to take the shot on the body to deflect it to safety two minutes later. Paulo and East Bengal got three more chances in the 24th, 30th and 41st minutes to go ahead but every time Paulo failed to give finishing touches to the moves.

As the first half neared a predictable end, right wing-back Syed Rahim Nabi, in one of many incisive runs down the flank, was brought down by Prodip Poddar inside the penalty box. Referee Manual Pereira awarded a spot kick which was converted by Paulo.

The early second half saw Muktijoddha controlling the midfield and coming up with some good moves. But the East Bengal defence, led by Debjit Ghosh, thwarted all its plans. East Bengal regained control and added its second in the 60th minute through Paulo. Substitute Climax Lawrence's cross from right came to an unmarked Paulo on the left and he did not waste time in shooting home.

The rival citadel fell again in the 79th minute after Rahim Nabi's shot came off the goalkeeper and Dipankar Roy placed home. The visiting team managed to make only one effort to score in the dying minutes but Saifur Rahman Moni's shot went wide.

Myanmar Finance and Revenue Football Club will take on Renown Sports Club of Sri Lanka in the concluding group A match on Monday.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport