CALCUTTA, March 18: East Bengal remained in the race for the National Football League title with a 2-0 win over Jagatjit Cotton and Textile Mills of Phagwara here today.The Calcutta team, which started with Bhaichung Bhutia on the benches, scored once in each half through Raman Vijayan and Emmanuel Opoku. They also squandered a number of chances, mostly after Bhutia came in as a substitute midway through the second half. The wily forward created a number of opportunities which his teammates could not capitalise upon.East Bengal now have 16 points from nine games and are within reach of leaders Salgaocar of Goa, who have 17 from eight games.JCT started with a promise on the hot sultry afternoon with striker Surjit Singh testing East Bengal goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey with an accurate shot in the 10th minute. A few minutes later, Hardip Saini's attempt from the box came off a defender.However, the JCT game wilted under the heat as East Bengal, more used to the conditions, started organising theirattacks. Dipendu Biswas twice came close to finding the target, in the 18th and the 21st minute, both attempts missing the goal.The first goal came in the 23rd minute through well orchesterated move. Dipendu Biswas essayed a ball for Carlton Chapman on the right and the winger used the flank to move up before centering. Raman Vijayan came charging to nudge the ball in. Later, Suley Musah created a good ball for Opoku, but the Ghanian's long-range shot was inches wide.East Bengal got their second goal 18 minutes after half-time, with Basudeb Mondal putting Vijayan through at the top of the box. The lanky forward passed on to Opoku whose diagonal shot entered the net.East Bengal coach Manoranjan Bhattacharya obliged the spectators by bringing in Bhutia four minutes after Opoku's goal. The Sikkimese boy showed why he is in so much demand with a few excellent dribbles that foxed the JCT defenders and put East Bengal forwards in the clear. Raman Vijayan missed two sitters and Opoku's shot off aremarkable Bhutia back-heel hit the side net.Testing time for SalgaocarSalgaocar will be under pressure in their National Football League match against Mohun Bagan at the Salt Lake Stadium tomorrow. A win will give them the title and Bagan, inspite of their poor form, are quite formidable opponents. Coach Shabbir Ali said his team will play positive soccer and added that they won't be under any pressure. That of course, is not entirely true.Salgaocar will not be missing any of their key players, but Bagan will be without Debjit Ghosh. The defender again will be out with two bookings. He must have created a record of bookings by now. Satyajit Chatterjee also has a double booking. Chima Okerie is still on the injured list, so is Hemant Dora. Bagan, already out of the race, will not want to risk their recuperating players tomorrow.Salgaocar have 17 points from eight matches and full points tomorrow will put them beyond East-Bengal's reach. Apart from the Bagan-Salgaocar match, Churchillwill face FC Kochin tomorrow in an inconsequential match at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. The Churchill team, along with coach Danny McLeanen watched the East Bengal-JCT game today with the knowledge that they are out of contention.
