Powerhouse Bengal toy with Kerala

The brilliance of Bhaichung Bhutia in the 12th minute and Raman Vijayan (35th) numbed the Kerala defence. Kerala managed to equalise through their top scorer, striker Asif Saheer (26th). Bengal struck their third through a header by Carlton Chapman off a flag kick.

Bengal took the field without medio Amit Das, yet to recover from hamstring injury. But as is their wont, Bengal shifted the pressure on Kerala in a sudden move in the 12th minute. Medio Basudev Mondal trapped a loose ball beyond the half line. Unmarked, he turned in and floated it across to Bhutia. The latter exhibited his class heading the ball unerringly past Kerala goal keeper Nelson.

Kerala did not have to wait long for the equaliser, with the crowd rooting for them. The 19-year-old Asif Saheer stunned the Bengal defence in the 26th minute, casually running in a feeder from Dhanesh, in an opportunistic move on the right.

Bengal struck again after hustling the Kerala defence for some time.

This time, the other international, Raman Vijayan broke loose inside the box moving in tandem with Bhutia. He unleashed a powerful right-footer as Bhutia laid up the ball.

The Kerala goal looked hapless as the teams went into half time. Bengal, looking to score off every move increased their lead just a minute before the first half. Basudev Mondal’s volley off a flag kick Carlton Chapman headed in without much ado.

The exchanges were a bit more even into the second session with Kerala trying desperately to reduce the margin. While Kerala’s moves were thwarted midway or on the top of the box, every Bengal move appeared dangerous. The closest chance was when Carlton Chapman’s left-footer, off a move on the right, only struck the post.