Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Despite being plagued by the absence of Jose Ramirez Barreto and Favio Vidal following their exit in the 10th and 34th minute respectively, Mohun Bagan exhibited an excellent brand of football, but it was arch rivals East Bengal who had the last laugh after they won the ‘Kolkata Derby’ by a solitary goal in their NFL tie at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan today evening.
East Bengal defender Shoumik Dey struck the winner in the 13th minute courtesy Favio Vidal and Dipak Mondol’s crucial mistakes in the six-yard box. Both defenders messed up an Alvito D Cunha lob towards the box. An advancing Izumi Arata tried to chest it down but failed but Dey capitalised on Bagan folly and headed home without any difficulty.
East Bengal now have 14 points from seven matches while Bagan, with only seven points after the same number of matches, are looking down the barrel. The team will have to pull their socks if they want to avoid relegation.
The green-and-maroon brigade, with injured Bhaichung Bhutia already out for the derby, received the shock in the 10th minute when Jose Barreto, following a muscle injury, had to leave the pitch. And then his country mate Favio Vidal was ruled out after a serious ankle injury.
Still, the red-and-gold brigade didn’t look composed at all. Alvito D Cunha who was a doubtful starter, was on the field for 34 minute. Except having sent that measured lob which earned the goal, the Goan midfielder was a mere shadow of his former self. Alvito apart, the East Bengal midfield appeared to be wasting time by holding on to the ball in midfield which only helped the opposition organise itself.
Bagan bounced back superbly after the break. Midfield, specially, Lal Kamal Bhowmick, Suman Dutta and Surojit Bose, the substitute for Barreto took the leadership to crack East Bengal defence.
