E Bengal derail ICF

Skipper Dulal Biswas, right back, was the most active among the East Bengal players. Overlapping well, thrice he went up to the flag post in the ICF half knifing through the soft defence quite easily. However, there was no one to take advantage of his centres. Bijen Singh and Renedy Singh both failed to rise in time to head in Biswas’ high balls inside the box.

Their shortcomings were even more apparent as the ICF goalkeeper Prakasam rarely budged to intercept the crosses. Clearly East Bengal were missing a scorer of Raman Vijayan’s capability.

The mood changed in the second half as East Bengal, after a pep-talk from technical director P K Banerjee, lifted their game by just that much to pump in three goals. This was something ICF was not quite prepared for. The serene attack they held at bay so far, suddenly developed a lethal bite. All that was due to Somatai Saiza. The diminutive midfielder created all the goals for East Bengal with remarkably accurate flag-kicks. The first, in the 57th minute, was actually a result of a defensive lapse.

Saiza’s low corner taken from right should have been cleared by any of the four defenders. But the back-line just failed to connect as the ball passed through a maze of legs finally reaching Naushad Moosa at the far post. Moosa tapped the ball in without much difficulty.

Meanwhile, substitute Saravanan once again displayed his thundering right foot, twice forcing ICF ‘keeper Prakasam to make desperate saves. Saravanan too got his name on the scoring list, but that was after Renedey Singh had made amends for his earlier misses.

Again Saiza’s controlled flag-kick caught the ICF defenders completely off-gaurd, with high ball this time, which swerved away from the advancing goalkeeper in the 61st minute. Renedy, seizing his chance, headed in past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

Saiza, very confident with his flag-kicks by then, placed another eight minutes later inside the box for Nazimul Haq to make an attempt. As Nazimul’s header reached tantalizingly close to the ICF goal-line, a charging Saravanan got his left foot to it, helping it on its way into the goal. The Perambur defenders had bungled again, leaving both Nazimul and Saravanan unmarked.

Goalkeeper Prakasam had to be at his acrobatic best to tip over a Saravanan long ranger, denying the defending champions one more goal. Another 30-yarder by the medio came back after hitting the upright.

With the game well and truly wrapped up, none of the East Bengal players attempted to score off the rebound.