I-League: East Bengal Are Safe, JCT Not Yet

East Bengal 2-1 JCT

The Red and Gold brigade shall be happy to snap the crucial three points as it takes their points tally to 27 which means that for them relegation is out of question. Meanwhile, JCT jointly on 22 points with Mohammedan Sporting are still living dangerously on the edge.

In the absence of the trio of Sunil Chhetri, M.Suresh and Surkumar Singh, coach Subhash Bhowmick started with Syed Nabi with Yakubu upfront while Nirmal Chhetri and Saumik Dey formed the two full backs. JCT had Amandeep Singh and Baljit Sahni on the two wings with Jagpreet Singh and Shivraj Singh forming the central midfield partnership.

East Bengal started brightly with some attacking intent but JCT were equal to the task. There wasn’t much to choose thereafter as none could create a good opening with the final touch being the only bane.

It took nearly 17 minutes for the first chance of the game when Renedy Singh’s flagkick was met with a Suley Musah header which went wide.

Amandeep Singh, who is now well-known for his pace on the right wing, ran down and sent the ball across the face of the goal but Baljit Sahni was a yard or two slow.

The home side kept attacking especially from the left flank with Renedy Singh and Yakubu combining well. Ishmael Addo released Yakubu on the right as he beat Jaspal Singh but an alert Sarabjit Singh made an important block. Mehtab Hussain in his attempt to be unselfish laid the ball for Jayanta Sen whose left footer shot went into the orbit.

East Bengal took the lead in the 35th minute and the credit should wholly and solely go to their Ghanaian striker Yusif Yakubu whose shot went straight into the top of the net.

JCT could have equalised three minutes later, when Anwar’s header came off the post from an Amandeep Singh delivery from the right.

After a good one-two with Syed Nabi, Yakubu’ shot went straight into the hands of JCT custodian Karanjit Singh.

In the second session, it was East Bengal who looked the better side in the first 10 minutes as they moved the ball around and didn’t allow JCT much chance though their defence always susceptible.

Suley Musah made a crucial block when Eduardo turned and shot after Amandeep Singh’s mazy run on the right. Around the hour mark, Amandeep Singh’s cross saw Balwant Singh lob the ball which eventually went over the net.

Ishmael Addo decided to take on JCT players as he made his way through the middle and found Syed Nabi whose return ball was latched on by Yakubu from his countrymen’s path and brilliantly slotted past Karanjit Singh to score his second of the evening.

Eduardo Da Silva sent Balwant Singh on the right and returned his cross with a shot which was saved by East Bengal goalkeeper Abhra Mondal only to see the rebound go behind the line in the 76th minute.

Two minutes later, Balwant Singh’s shot saw Abhra Mondal pull-off a save which kept his side from dropping two points.

The match ended with the same scoreline with East Bengal supporters and bench heaving sigh of relief while the scenes were just the opposite for the visitors.

Goalscorer East Bengal: Yusif Yakubu: (35th min and 69th min)

Goalscorer JCT: Eduardo Da Silva (76th min)    

Rahul Bali.