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East Bengal held to goaless draw

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: Kingfisher East Bengal fumbled at its home turf yet again, playing out a goalless draw against Lebanese visitor Safa SC at Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday. The AFC Cup Group B league is turning out to be a misadventure for the Indian Federation Cup champion, which has failed to capitalise on a positive start.

Netting two wins — one away and one at home — in the first three matches, East Bengal has hit the doldrums since.

The searing afternoon setting was hardly ideal for a good encounter with the heat and humidity putting a great test of endurance for the men in the middle. For the visitor coming in from temperate climes, the conditions were more challenging than for the host. Even East Bengal players did not seem comfortable, with the mercury climbing.

Safa, leading the group table with eight points, understandably opted for a defensive tactics with an eye on preserving its position. East Bengal tried to make the most of the situation but failed to alter the scoreline.

With its Brazilian forward, Edmilson Marques, sitting out with a suspension, East Bengal tried versatile Alvito D’Cunha and Syed Rahim Nabi in the offensive role. The combination did not totally disappoint, breaching the Safa defence on more occasion than once, but it was their goal-shyness that doomed the prospects of the team.

Alvito was more focused on the provider’s role and created three close chances, setting up Nabi (third minute), midfielder Mehtab Hussain (50th) and substitute Snehasish Chakraborty (75th) on the Safa goalmouth. The trio found their attempts either going wide or landing in the safe hands of the Safa custodian Nazih Tay.

Safa too had couple of chances but its forwards Hamze Abboud and Bernard Mbassi missed out.

East Bengal, with seven points, will face Yemen’s Ahli Sana’a away on May 14.

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