The Hindu : Sport / Football : Easy for East Bengal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 28, 2005

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Sport - Football

Easy for East Bengal

MARGAO, JAN. 27. Defending champion East Bengal warded off a second-half challenge from host Vasco Sports Club to score a convincing 3-0 win in the fourth round of the ninth National Football League here on Thursday.

The Kolkata outfit took the lead in the 31st minute through Selwyn Fernandes. Climax Lawrence increased the margin in the 74th minute, while Bhaichung Bhutia scored the third goal in the injury time.

This was East Bengal's second win in the league and has eight points from four matches. Vasco, which suffered its third defeat, has one point from four outings.

The first-half witnessed complete domination by East Bengal. And it got a clear chance in the 13th minute when S. Malsawmtluanga intercepted a back pass from Agnelo Colaco and beat an advancing goalkeeper Ramos. But he drove the ball wide with an empty net in front.

East Bengal surged ahead after Bhutia initiated the move from the middle. He gave a pass to Malsawma who found Selwyn Fernandes. Selwyn beat Nicolau Colaco and send a firm grounder past goalkeeper Ramos.

Vasco went all out to equalise in the dying minutes of the first-half and Sushant Mathew's shot missed the target by a whisker. The Goans were also unlucky when referee B.K. Singh denied Vasco a penalty kick after Rahim Nabi tripped Sidney Rodrigues from behind inside the box.

Matches rescheduled

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has decided to reschedule the fourth, fifth and sixth round matches of the NFL involving Sporting Clube de Goa. Ten members of the team and the coach were injured in an accident in Kolkata on Wednesday.

AIFF General Secretary, Alberto Colaco, said the matches would be rescheduled after considering the players' medical report.

According to the original schedule, Sporting Clube was to meet Mahindra United (Jan. 29, Mumbai), Churchill Brothers (Feb. 2) and the Dempo Sports Club (Feb. 5). — PTI & UNI

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