Churchill Brothers lucky to hold East Bengal
Churchill…2 Bengal…2
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MARGAO, MAY 23
Kolkata giants East Bengal dazzled but allowed a sure victory to slip from their clutches as they settled for a 2-2 draw with Musli Power Churchill Brothers in an ONGC I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday. Churchill Bros were leading 1-0 at half time.
East Bengal began on a promising note and time and gain put Churchill defence under pressure. For the visitors, Mehtab Hossain, Syed Rahim Nabi and Beingachho Bekhokhei worked effectively in the midfield to feed Alvito D’Cunha and Budiram Tudu, who kept the rival defence on their toes.
Former champions Churchill Bros were a pale shadow of themselves as they were completely off-colour and were unable to strike a rhythm.
Striker Budiram Tudu wasted an open chance after a floater across the Churchill Bros goal by Alvito. East Bengal could have taken the lead in the 9th minute but Beingacho Bekhokhei was the culprit as he delayed in cracking at the rival goal after he was fed on a platter by Budiram Tudu.
East Bengal nearly found the mark in the 15th minute but Alvito’s right footer came off the right post off a Behhokhei pass. A couple of minutes later Churchill’s goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya came to his side’s rescue diving at the feet of Budiram Tudu..
In the 27th minute, Beingaichho blew away an easy chance, shooting over from five yards after a Harmanjot Singh Khabra assist .
East Bengal defenders Nirmal Chettri and Uga Okpara provided little room for Odafa but their citadel fell in the 36th minute when right wing half Reisangmi Vashum gave a claver pass for Odafa, who turned around and beat East Bengal goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh.
Churchill could have crossed with a 2-0 cushion but Odafa blasted wide at the stroke of lemon time.
Crossing over, East Bengal mounted pressure but captain Syed Rahim Nabi’s smart header was tipped away by Churchill goalkeeper Arindam.
Churchill Bros doubled the lead in the 55th minute through a spot kick. Following an Odafa well measured pass, Ogba Kalu moved inside the rival box but East Bengal goalkeeper Gupreet caught Ogba’s leg and referee Dinesh Nair without hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot. Felix Chimaokwu made no mistake with the resultant spot kick.
East Bengal fought back and midfielder Mehtab Hossain’s snap shot struck the right post and went in, in the 57th minute.
East Bengal were back on level terms in the 67th minute when left wing back Beingaichho was brought down by Churchill Bros defender Raju Yumnam inside the box. Substitute Sanju Pradhan made no mistake with the penalty kick beating Arindam.
East Bengal were unlucky in the 73rd minute when Sanju Pradhan unleashed a 35-yard shot which beat the rival goalkeeper and bounced off the crossbar after Baichung Bhutia’s pass .
At the other end, East Bengal goalkeeper Gupreet blocked Ogba Kalu’s rasping drive.
Beingaicho wasted a gilt-scoring opportunity off Poibiang Poshna.