The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal escapes with a draw

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Monday, Apr 24, 2006

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Sport - Football

East Bengal escapes with a draw

Special Correspondent

Paresh Shivalkar walks away with the `man of the match'

MUMBAI: Kingfisher East Bengal was extremely fortunate to escape with a points split after a thrilling 1-1 draw with Air-India in the 10th National Football League for the ONGC Cup on Sunday. Paresh Shivalkar, the speedy Mumbai striker, walked away with the `man of the match' award after his team outran and outwitted the mighty Kolkata team. Vijith Shetty (19th minute) and Baichung Bhutia (29th) scored a goal each.

Air-India, coached by Bimal Ghosh and relieved to have moved out of relegation zone, played hard from start to finish to leave the league leader gasping for breath. Belgian Philippe Ridder, in charge of East Bengal, will be an embarrassed man after the wealth of riches at his command in attack and midfield was unable to break down the dogged Mumbai defence. The hard-earned point from this draw ensures East Bengal (28 points, 14 matches) a two-point cushion at the top. AI totalled 15 points (14 games) so far.

Magnificent response

Shetty leaped and nodded in the first goal of the match, the looping header deceiving EB goalkeeper Abhira Mondal. Bhutia's response was equally magnificent, latching onto a long ball hit crossfield by Ndem Guy Herve and lashing home in a flash. AI custodian Raju Ekka, stationed on the goalline, could not get his hands onto the angled shot bulging the net wide to his left.

EB defender Guy Martial headed down a flag kick, the ball bouncing off the ground and over the crossbar. AI celebrated this escape with flurry of attacks, keeping the star-studded Kolkata club in its own half for almost the entire second half. The ceaseless raids broke down EB defensive resistance, substitute Binoy Kuruvilla's header off a corner flying past the post. Mondal under the bar for the NFL leaders rescued his side with a block off another Kuruvilla try, Shivalkar homed in on the rebound but was hustled into a hasty shot.

AI defenders Santosh Koli, Uttam Singh, A. Martins and H. Thomte kept Bhutia and mates in check with firm tackles and covered up for each other.

The Mumbai team cleared the ball upfield at every opportunity, putting the onus on EB to build up moves. Shivalkar's speedy bursts and Nigerian striker Bashiru Abbas clever shielding of the ball with his body, put the EB defence in awkward situations.

As if this non-stop pressure was not enough, AI used Uttam Singh's phenomenal throwing ability to good use, the Manipuri hurling the ball flat and hard from the sidelines into and beyond the goalmouth.

Stunning defeat

EB has drawn both home and away matches against AI, whose stunning defeat earlier over Mahindra United will translate into more respect for Ghosh's tactical acumen and the fighting qualities displayed by the players against some of India's highest-paid football professionals.

Bhutia was kept in check, except for the stunning first half goal. Alvito D'cunha was deprived of passes to put his famous left foot to use. Ndem Herve twisted and turned in the midfield but was denied a clear look at goal.

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