The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal wins

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Monday, Apr 25, 2005

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Sport - Football

East Bengal wins

Sports Reporter

Syed Rahim Nabi scores the match-winner

KOLKATA: Holder Kingfisher East Bengal put its AFC Cup setback behind to make a victorious re-entry into the National Football League beating archrival Mohun Bagan by a solitary goal here at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

The outcome of the 19th round match fetched contrasting tidings for the two sides as the win reinstated the defending champion as the league leader while the defeat pushing Mohun Bagan back into the relegation bracket.

Having to play the next two rounds away from home, the win against Mohun Bagan helped East Bengal hope anew about realising the historic hat-trick of the NFL title.

Midfielder Syed Rahim Nabi scored the winner late in the 76th minute of the match, which saw an absorbing contest with Mohun Bagan putting up a spirited challenge.

In the end count, East Bengal tallied 39 points from its 12th win in 18 matches, to steal a point's lead over the Sporting Clube de Goa (38 points).

With four more rounds to go the title contest is narrowing down to three clubs as another Goa outfit Dempo, netting 35 points from 17 matches, remained close behind the top two in the 12-team league standings.

The former three-time champion, Mohun Bagan, found misfortune piling up as it remained in the ninth position with just 18 points to its credit after playing 19 matches. As the tournament laws stipulate relegation for the last four teams, Mohun Bagan has now been put into a grim struggle for survival.

The first session put the contest on even keel as both the teams shared the attempts at goal but the chances remained elusive owing to poor finishing. Both the teams found their Brazilian strikers — Roberto Mendes Silva of Mohun Bagan and Juliano Martins of East Bengal, missing a couple of chances each from close to end the first half barren.

A moment of laxity in the defense upset the equation hurtling Mohun Bagan to the 10th defeat of the tournament. Missing the services of its suspended striker Baichung Bhutia, East Bengal was helped out by its multi-role campaigner, Alvito D'Cunha, who impressed all with his gusto and gumption.

D'Cunha, scripted the goal setting a sharp cross that sailed across the box of Bagan, which had none of its defenders in position, before reaching an unmarked Rahim Nabi who nodded home to realise the win.

Mohun Bagan, which had held the same opponent goalless in the first phase, tried to comeback in the remaining 14 minutes but failed to get through its striking blues.

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