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I-League: East Bengal Edge Past Viva To Register First Win Of The Season
The Kolkata giants scored a narrow win in Kerala....
02-Nov-2009 8:25:52 PM
An early goal from captain Syed Rahim Nabi helped East Bengal win 1-0 against Viva Kerala at Kozhikode Municipal Stadium on Monday evening.
After failing to win any of their first five matches, East Bengal were determined to make a quick start in order to keep the home crowd quiet.
Viva keeper Shahinlal was called into action as early as the seventh minute when he had to produce a fine save from an East Bengal corner.
Four minutes later the Kolkata giants took the lead through skipper Syed Rahim Nabi who converted a chance created by young Subhash Singh.
For the second consecutive match Viva found themselves trailing but they put East Bengal under pressure immediately to find the equalizer.
The home side were restricted to long range efforts for a while but Sirajudeen did find himself in space inside the box after a teasing cross from new signing Wisut Bunpeng. However the medio could win only win a corner for his side.
A minute later, a header from Viva’s PIO Patrick Sisupalan was cleared off the line. Viva were having their best spell of the match but the finishing wasn’t up to the mark.
East Bengal were playing on the break with the Ghanaian duo of Yusif Yakubu and Abel Hammond being their only attacking threat.
Viva had a glorious opportunity three minutes before the halftime break when a goal mouth scramble presented Sirajudeen the chance to shoot at an empty net but the midfielder failed to do so.
The team from Kerala dominated the game after going behind but East Bengal held on to their lead at the breather.
Viva started the second session with the same intensity which they showed in the first. Thai striker Wisut Bunpeng was looking their most influential player as he kept creating chances but the likes of Reuben Senyo were unable to take any of them.
The best chance fell to midfielder Karma who was set clean through on goal by a long ball but he wasted the opportunity.
East Bengal hardly created anything and were having to do more defending as the game went on. Hosts Viva kept dominating possession and were winning a series of corners and throw ins but the end product was lacking in quality.
For East Bengal, Nigerian defender Uga Okpara was having an outstanding game at the heart of the defence.
Three minutes from time Viva did have the ball in the back of the East Bengal net but the goal was disallowed as striker Rueben Senyo was adjudged offside.
The side from Kolkata held on for their first three points of the season which lifts them to ninth spot while Viva Kerala remain at the relegation zone.
Goalscorers: Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal) 11’
Goal.com India
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