The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal decimates Tollygunge Agragami

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Sport

Sport - Football

East Bengal decimates Tollygunge Agragami

KOLKATA, FEB. 15. Title-holder East Bengal continued its awesome run decimating Tollygunge Agragami 5-0 in their IX National Football League encounter here on Tuesday. Leading 1-0 at the breather, the winner pumped in four more goals during a second half blitz to clinch its sixth consecutive victory and consolidate its position atop the table with 20 points from eight outings.

Star striker Bhaichung Bhutia, who seems determined to give a befitting reply to all his detractors, struck a brace while Climax Lawrence and Chandan Das scored apiece in the second session after Shylo Malsawmtluanga gave the red and yellow brigade an early lead at the Salt Lake stadium.

East Bengal controlled the proceedings from the start, carrying on a series of raids into the opponent territory in the early minutes, but slowed down the game in the opening half after taking the lead.

The winner shot into the lead in the 13th minute when following a low centre from Dipankar Roy, Malsawmtluanga netted with a flying header which entered the goal near the second post. The scoreline became 2-0 in the 53rd minute as East Bengal increased the pressure and Climax scored his fifth goal in the league by out jumping two Tollygunge defenders to head home a Chandan Das flag kick.

Tollygunge suffered another setback four minutes later with Bhutia setting up Chandan Das with a fine pass and the medio tapping in from close giving no chance to Tollygunge goalkeeper Sudip Sarkar.

East Bengal widened the lead in the 66th minute as Bhutia fired a rasping right footer from the top of the box. Bhutia stole the show ten minutes later latching on to a short pass from Chandan Das and pushing the ball into the net dodging past rival defender Kabijit Khotel and goalkeeper Sarkar to push his goal tally in the current edition of the league to six. — PTI

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

Sport