The Hindu : Sport / Football : Bagan vs East Bengal: Tactical thriller on the cards

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Wednesday, Nov 10, 2004

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Bagan vs East Bengal: Tactical thriller on the cards

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 9. A tactical thriller awaits football fans on Wednesday when East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clash for the Durand Cup football title at the Ambedkar Stadium. Provided, of course, that the two Kolkata clubs shed the defensive mindset that has marked their three meetings this season _ two draws and one `sudden death' verdict in favour of Mohun Bagan.

Can we expect fireworks ahead of Deepawali? Two Nigerians, Earnest Jeremiah and James Agbougwu, could provide the answer. They look distinctly different and superior when compared to the rest on the field in terms of explosive power, speed and endurance, and football thinking too.

Jeremiah is the key to East Bengal's fortunes upfront and James to Mohun Bagan's overall planning. Gaining midfield supremacy will be of paramount importance as the teams test each other in conditions most ideal. The ground may have taken some pounding in the last one month from non-stop matches but the players will have no complaints against the weather, at least.

Under pressure

East Bengal will be under pressure because Mohun Bagan, on current form, looks the better side. It wears a formidable look with the return of Eduwardo Chacoa, the versatile Brazilian with a fantastic eye for an opening, from a one-match suspension.

Another man who could make an impact on the result is Tomba Singh, the energetic Manipuri. His presence in the midfield will add to Mohun Bagan's potency with Basudeb Mondal, Dharamjit Singh, Jerry Zirsingma and Mehtab Hossain a lethal pool to pick from.

East Bengal's greatest concern lies in its defence. True, Madhab Das and Selwyn Fernandes have looked unbeatable but the combination could be disturbed since the reliable India captain Deepak Mondal looks doubtful for the final on account of a knee injury sustained during the semifinal against JCT and Habibur Rehman did not show any exceptional qualities in the semifinal.

A bigger blow to East Bengal, however, will be the suspension that attacking midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi invited with a mindless foul against JCT midfielder Bimal Barwa.

It earned him his second yellow card and calamity for the team, for Nabi's innovative mind and unsettling speed had been the key in East Bengal's progress thus far.

It could draw comfort from the fact that stopper back Douglas Santos promises to raise his game, just as the East Bengal camp expects Chandan Das, Alvito D'Cunha and S. Malsawmtluanga to share the burden in the midfield. If Climax Lawrence recovers from a swollen ankle, the pressure on Mohun Bagan could increase substantially.

Predicament

Mohun Bagan faces a predicament in accommodating Asim Biswas, just back from Kuwait, for Sunil Chetri upfront. Chetri had a poor semifinal against Salgaocar but is capable of producing a commanding performance. There are lesser worries in the Bagan defence where Rishi Kapoor, Manitombi Singh and Dulal Biswas have proved themselves admirably.

The teams have a rich choice to make for the goalkeeper's role. Prashanta Dora, the India goalkeeper, is available for Mohun Bagan but Subrata Pal should retain his place, having done a splendid job thus far. His two penalty saves in the semifinal were clinching contributions.

The same applies to Rajat Ghosh Dastidar even as East Bengal toys with the idea of fielding Sangram Mukherjee, the India custodian. Dastidar has done nothing to vacate the spot and presents a dour challenge to the opposition with his confident goalkeeping.

East Bengal may lack the pace that Mohun Bagan boasts of but very little separates the two. East Bengal's striking force, Jeremiah, and Mohun Bagan's fit and fast midfield will have the decisive role to play.

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