Bagan regain Rovers Cup after eight years

Bagan chose to dourly defend their solitary goal lead, which was obtained by Jayantha Sen in 19th minute. They were then seen at their attacking best in the last 15 minutes, at a time, when Zee Churchill had thrown caution to the winds in a desperate search for the equaliser.

Churchill’s move to throw everything into attack in the dying minutes, which saw even their goalkeeper and captain Edward Ansah leave his post and move right up to bolster their forwards, came a cropper as their defence fell a second time at the fag end.

Bagan’s second goal by linkman Dulal Biswas in the dying minute, signalled that the Rovers Cup was on its way to Kolkata and triggered off earlycelebrations all over the stadium. Crackers burst and the din of the partisan crowd was deafening and was seen at its joyous best. The whole scene reminded one of the good old days when spectators would throng at the Cooperage.

Churchill came by the first opportunity even before the spectators had settled down in their seats. Foreign imports Igor Shkvrin and Andre Requena were concerned in a fine passing bout down the middle. Igor broke free but shot straight into Bagan ‘keeper Bivash Ghosh. Andre tried to make the most of the rebound but his feeble shot was saved on the goalline by stopper Amauri who had rushed back.

Bagan hit back in the eighth minute. Striker Jose Barretto was ideally placed in front of goal after RP Singh and Amar Ganguly had worked in tandem on the left flank. But RP Singh’s defence-splitting goalmouth cross was tapped wide of the target from close by Barretto.

However, Bagan were successful in the 19th minute. In a speedy move down the right flank, wing-back Amitava Chandra harnessed linkman Jayanta Sen with a precise forward pass. Sen covered some ground before he left Churchill goalkeeper Ansah standing with an angular piledriver to the far corner of goal to the delight of the supporters.

Bagan goalkeeper Ghosh, who had a fine day beneath the bar, then confidently fisted the ball out after an Igor header from close. Next, Somatai Shaiza, who had a clear view, following a good passing bout between Francis Silveira and Igor before the former drilled a fine opening, shot wide of a gaping target from the top of the box. With those tries went Churchill’s hopes of a goal in the first-half.

In the second session, Churchill linkman Jose Colaco shot over following a fine opening by Silveira on the right and at the other end, Rajesh Meetie of Churchill brought off a goalline save after an Amauri shot following a Bagan flag-kick.

Churchill had three chances thereafter. But Igor, who seemed to have kept his shooting boots at home, shot over after a fine one-two move with Uday Konar, who had replaced Shaiza. Andre then failed to cap a solo and a Silveira header, following a corner, crashed onto the crossbar.

Bagan then buried whatever hopes the Goans may have entertained when Dulal Biswas netted the second goal following a goalmouth melee in front of the Churchill goal.