The Hindu : Sport / Football : Air-India holds East Bengal

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Monday, Jan 30, 2006

Sport

Sport - Football

Air-India holds East Bengal

Sports Reporter

KOLKATA: Former champion Kingfisher East Bengal was held to a goalless draw by Air-India here in a fifth round encounter of the 10th National Football League played at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday.

Drawing for the third time in five matches, East Bengal incurred a deficit of two points again to tally nine points and remain tied in the second spot with Sporting Clube de Goa. On the other hand the drawn result proved a big gain for the visitor which, having beaten defending champion Dempo 2-0 in its previous away match at Goa, halted another big team in the form of East Bengal. Air-India climbed to the sixth spot to be placed alongside Salgaocar SC.

In a fine show of tact Air-India, coached by veteran Bimal Ghosh, neutralized the host's biggest weapon Baichung Bhutia. Using one of the former East Bengal campaigners, Ghanaian Suley Musah, Air-India tightened its defence successfully restricting the East Bengal incursions. While Bhutia was closely policed, the host failed to find a second striker who could avail the gaps as the opponent focused on the former.

East Bengal's Belgian coach, Philippe de Ridder, replaced his other striker Mike Okoro early trying to mobilize the attack. Okoro appeared to be having fitness problems. The second striker's slot was hard to fill as East Bengal made two more changes first bringing in Bernard Pires and then substituting him again with K. Kulothungan in the second session. This increased the thrust on the opponent but the goal remained unrealised as the opponent locked its goal mouth. Kulothungan, fed by Bhutia in the 59th minute, had a clear opportunity. But the former shot wide of the target in haste. East Bengal's Cameroon recruit Endem was named the man-of-the-match.

At Margao on Saturday, Sporting Club de Goa clung on to a first-half goal to edge out Salgaocar Sports Club 1-0 and earn full points at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here on Saturday.

The all-important goal for Sporting came through Rajesh Meetei in the second minute of the first half.

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