Sangram saves the day for East Bengal

As Geylang coach Scott O’Donell said: ‘‘We had our game plan, unfortunately we are not fully fit yet to see it through. But I’m proud of my players. They fought back, they pleased me.’’

East Bengal finished the well-deserved winner, playing wide, open football at such high tempo that victory was looking almost inevitable after only 15 minutes.

Yet, despite all the accomplished technique, all the pin-point passing and all the pace, Bengal could find no goal for more than half-an-hour. Instead, it was Geylang who shocked everyone by taking the lead in the 39th minute when, from a corner, the shortest man in the box, Hafiz Rahim, scored with a header.

But while the Geylang plan of a three-man bolt defence behind a five-man midfield suffocating Bengal’s pace at source worked wonders, the sheer quality of East Bengal was never in question.

So sure enough, the Bengal equaliser came as expected, Brazilian Cristiano Junior storming it home in the 44th after right-winger Subhas Chakraborty cut in to provide the square-ball.

And sure, Bengal took the lead in the 75th minute, skipper Baiching Bhutia robbing Noh Rahman of possession before crossing for Cristiano to find his brace.

Sure enough, too, the visitors’ lead was extended to 3-1 by the 82nd when goalkeeper Shahril Jantan, having done a respectable job before then, dropped Cristiano’s tame cross for Bijen Singh to score a gift goal.

But, just when it looked a lost cause for Geylang, a sudden goal from one of the most unlikeliest players of the night, inspired them to a swooping fightback.

Without second thoughts, Jeykanth Jeyapal unleashed a 30-metre volley dipping into the top-corner on the dot of the 90th minute. And the game was on in the stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Sangam held on to a firm header by Hafiz, dived at Aleksandar Duric’s feet to save, and then he flew back to tip-over Hasrin’s 35-metre missile. No disgrace, Geylang.

(The Straits Times)