The Hindu : Sport / Football : East Bengal clinches title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 14, 2007
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East Bengal clinches title

MUMBAI: Kingfisher East Bengal beat Mahindra United 1-0 to win the Nike Manchester United Premier Cup 2007 at the Cooperage ground on Saturday. Biswajit Natta netted the winner off a free kick. With this win, EB bagged the right to represent India at the Asian under-15 finals in Singapore in May.

The Kolkata lads, coached by Swarup Das, played speedy, attacking football from kick-off and kept the Mumbai team under pressure in the first half.

Mahindra United goalkeeper Sagar Pagdhare and defence combined to keep the EB forwards at bay with first-time clearances. East Bengal upped the tempo in the second half, focussing on the right flank, supported by an active midfield. The free-kick leading to the match-winner came off one such move.

Natta stepped up to take the free kick on the right and from an acute angle fired the ball high towards the right post.

The Mahindra defence did not read the move and were focused on marking the EB players stationed in the goalmouth. Pagdhare was taken by surprise and by the time he turned and covered the threat from a new angle, the ball brushed his gloves and flew in.

The Mumbai boys switched to long-ball tactics in search of the equaliser, but did not manage to knit together enough passes. — Special Correspondent

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