The Hindu : Sport / Football : Vasco stuns East Bengal

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Sunday, May 22, 2005

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Vasco stuns East Bengal

Sports Reporter

SILIGURI: Vasco SC shocked defending champion Kingfisher East Bengal 3-1 in the concluding round of the IX National Football League here at the Kanchanjungha Stadium on Saturday. The unexpected defeat spoilt East Bengal's party as the defending champion failed to make it a hat-trick of title triumphs.

The Kolkata giant saw all its hopes falling against the resolve of an unfancied visitor, which notched up the surprise win. East Bengal, with 43 points, will have to be content with the third position. Apart from helping another team win the title, the win remained a mere consolation for Vasco, which has already been sent to the relegation zone. The Goa team tallied 20 points from its quota of 22 matches and finished 10th among the 12 teams in the elite division.

Vasco dominates

On the field, the home favourite was hardly able to match its celebrated image and seemed to mix its tactics allowing the visitor to dominate. Vasco, gaining the unexpected aid from its opponent, did not waste its chances and struck at repeated intervals. Though the host started on the offensive, the balance tilted rapidly in favour of the visitor. The visitor's predominance was first felt in the 13th minute when an attempt by Agnelo Colaco was cleared off the line. Undeterred, Vasco kept up the pressure and reaped the benefit nine minutes later when an Anthony Pereira-Sidney Rodrigues combination got through the host's defence. Brazilian Rodrigues did the initial groundwork and sent a short through pass inside the East Bengal box where Pereira collected the provision, made a quick turn, and sent the ball home with an angular shot.

East Bengal's ploy of bolstering its attack by inducting Bijen Singh following the interval did not work to the host's advantage as the visitor struck again in the 48th minute. Sidney Rodrigues took up the provider's role to perfection yet again and on this occasion released his compatriot Favio Rodrigues unmarked in the striking zone with a sharp cross. The Vasco striker didn't make any mistakes as he chested down the ball and finished with a right footed half-volley. East Bengal reduced the margin in the 53rd minute through Sandip Das, who struck off a free-kick taken by Subhas Chakraborty. The goal revived the host but the chances of a comeback was dashed three minutes later when its defender Devjit Ghosh was given the marching orders for picking up the second booking of the match. It was all over for Vasco thereafter as the visitor picked up another goal in the 65th minute again through Pereira.

UNI adds

In Jamshedpur, Air-India stunned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of Bangalore 2-0 in their first match of the final round of the ONGC second division National Football League (NFL) at the Keenan stadium here on Saturday. Anthony Fernandes scored a brace.

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