EB8217;s dilemma 8212; To change winning combination

NEW DELHI, DEC 3: Tomorrow's match will be a study in contrast. There is Salgaocar, National League and Rovers Cup champions, making their...

NEW DELHI, DEC 3: Tomorrow8217;s match will be a study in contrast. There is Salgaocar, National League and Rovers Cup champions, making their maiden entry into the Allwyn Durand Cup football final. Their opponents are East Bengal, who have won the Cup 14 times and were runner-up eight times. East Bengal lost to Tollygunge Agragami in the IFA Shield semi-finals.

Both have an all-win record in this edition of the tournament so far. In fact, all the matches have produced results, a good sign for spectators. East Bengal beat three Punjab sides, PSEB, BSF and JCT, on their road to the final, a record of sorts in Delhi. Salgaocar dumped two high profile sides, FC Kochin and Mohun Bagan. Coach Shabbir Ali would not see much into that. Tomorrow is another day.

East Bengal has been more organised than Salgaocar. The Goans managed a 2-0 victory over Bagan, but the Calcutta team appeared better, at least, in the first half. They got more opportunities but lacked in finishing. In contrast, Salgaocar used their chanceswell.

With Jules Alberto back in the side, the Salgaocar mid-field has received a boost. As coach Shabbir Ali admitted, Ravichandran was not himself. Injury to Covan Lawrence also allowed Roberto Fernandes to claim his place in the defence. Fernandes and Alberto were both playing for the India senior team for the Asia Cup qualifiers.

East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmik has a dilemma there. Although his boys in the India team have returned, but he would not want to disturb the winning combination. 8220;That is something to think about,8221; he said after East Bengal beat JCT in the semi-final.

Bhowmik might prefer using Prasanta Dora under the bar, particularly after Gopal Das let in a simple goal against JCT.

Renedy Singh is always useful, so is wily striker Bijen Singh. Nigerian Emmanuel Opoku is back, but needs time to settle down. He was briefly used against JCT, after a long gap. In fact, that was his first game after over six months. Bhowmik might again start with him on the bench.

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The East Bengalgame should once again revolve around Tushar Rakshit who is yet to play a full game in the tournament so far. Even skipper Carlton Chapman has been going off the field in the middle of the second half. Both, along with wing-back Ratan Singh, are carrying injuries. Ranjan Dey or Falguni Dutta might fit in there.

Young Dipanker Ghosh will be the man to watch in the East Bengal side. He has been among goals and more importantly, he has been working hard at creating opportunities.

Salgaocar will have Brazilian Joao Dos Santos searching for goals. With Alvito D8217;Cunha showing good fitness against Bagan, Shabbir Ali might be tempted to have him on the starting line-up. He might not do that with Venkatesh, who had an important role in Salgaocar8217;s National League victory. The mid-fielder, recuperating from an injury, is yet to recover completely.

East Bengal beat Salgaocar 2-1 the last time they met in National League in March this year.

Probable teams

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Salgaocar: Juje Siddi, Francis Coelho, FrankyBaretto, Roberto Fernandes, Roque Pereira, Dharamjit Singh, Habib Adekunle, Denis Cabral, Jules Alberto, Gbenga Lawal, Joao Santos.

East Bengal: Prasanta Dora, Anit Ghosh, Jackson, Chanchal Bhattacharya, Ratan Singh, Carlton Chapman, Tushar Rakshit, Amitabha Ghosh, Rennedy Singh, Dipankar Roy, Raman Vijayan.

DURAND PERFORMANCE

Salgaocar has never reached the final. They are playing in the tournament after 15 years.

East Bengal: 23 appearances in final. Winners:

14 times. Runners-up: 8. East Bengal last won in 1995 beating Tata Football Academy. They were runner-up to Mahindras last year.

East Bengal-Salgaocar: Last four matches

March 16: EB 2 Sal 1

Febraury 28: Sal 2 EB 1

February 4: EB 1 Sal 0

January 10: EB 0 Sal 0