AGENCIES, KOLKATA: East Bengal got back to winning ways after beating DSK Shivajians 1-0 at the Barasat Stadium, here, on Tuesday. Ranti Martins (30’) scored the only goal of the game, in a tie that was largely dominated by the Kolkata based side.
Biswjait Bhattacharya, unsurprisingly, went in with an unchanged side that put up a valiant display in the Kolkata derby three days ago.
DSK Shivajians made as many as five changes from their failed trip to Aizawl — Zoding, Justin Stephen, Haroon Amiri, Don Bosco and Indrajeet Chougale made way for Lal Ralte, Hakku, Lobo, Israil Gurung and Mohammed Rafi.
The first piece of action came in the eight minute, after Du Dong Hyun stepped up to take a free kick from 20 yards out. The South Korean got the right bend on his hit bit failed to accomplish enough curl on it to go past Subrata Paul’s outstretched right hand.
Minutes later, East Bengal had another chance, this time via Ranti Martins, who was set up by a delightful pass from the left by Bikas Jairu. The forward could not sort his feet out with the ball being played just away from his reach and the home side missed a good chance to get an early lead.
Dead ball attempts seemed to be the trend of the evening, and it was DSK’s attempt this time from a free kick that raised a couple of eyebrows in the 15th minute. Dohou Pierre curled one above the defensive East Bengal wall but Rehenesh was up to the challenge.
In their previous two games, Derrick Pereira deployed Haroon Amiri as the defensive midfielder in front of the defensive line. However, a more offensive formation was adapted by the side from Pune with emphasis on Dohou Pierre to provide the impetus in attack and defense.
DSK’s inexperience in defence paid the price in the 30th minute, as East Bengal scored through Ranti Martins. Mohammad Rafique hit the cross bar with a drive at goal from the edge of the box after the ball arrived to him from a corner; the shot deflected straight to the Martins who made no mistake in fulfilling his goal scoring motivations.
East Bengal lost momentum as the half went on, despite DSK providing plenty of space for the home side to penetrate. As the referee signalled half time, the score line read 1-0 to the Red and Golds.
The second half began with East Bengal manufacturing back to back chances in the 49th minute. In the first attempt, a cushion header from Ranti Martins was volleyed at goal with impeccable technique by Mohammad Rafique, but his attempt went inches wide. The source of the second attempt was Do Dong Hyun who was laid off by Martins yet again with a through ball; the South Korean showed good strength as he fended off attention on his 20 yard run at goal, but his left footed shot went wide of Subrata Paul’s wide post.
Despite East Bengal passing the ball around with ease and looking potent going forward, DSK looked more organized in the second half and increased the home side’s attempts to double their advantage.
DSK nearly scored against the run of play in the 70th minute, as Israil Gurung’s left footed shot from a corner deflected off Belo Rasaq and hit the outside of the crossbar. Rehenesh was beaten all ends up and the visitors were unlucky to establish parity.
The Red and Gold’s repetitive efforts to penetrate the DSK defence did not bear fruit and the score line finished at 1-0 at the blow of the referee’s final whistle.
