Published>Tue, Nov 02 10 07:08 AM
It's a bit unusual to see the East Bengal's flag being flown incessantly, given that it's Delhi the team are playing in, and not Kolkata. But that was what happened on Monday, during the Durand Cup quarter-final match against Salgaocar, as the red and golden flag made its presence felt in the stands, and later around the shoulders of coach Trevor Morgan after his team won 2-1 to enter the last four.
Although they'd won 17 matches before Monday, East Bengal started slowly and conceded an early goal, a rare persisting weakness in this side. With the rival team looking lethargic, and coach Karim Bencherifa's screaming advices from the sides, Salgaocar midfielder Rocus Lamare cornered the ball to striker Yakubu Yusif who headed it for a goal in the 31st minute.
East Bengal showed more urgency in the second half and got the equaliser in the 63rd minute when Salgaocar defender Khelemba Metei, who had been injured in a clash with Robin Singh, fouled Tolgay Ozbey inside the box, giving East Bengal a penalty kick. Sanju Pradhan calmly slotted it in and the goal gave the team the boost they needed - and it also took the wind out of Salgaocar's sails. Within five minutes, Mehtab Hossain, who will be missing the semi-final because of two yellow cards, passed the ball to Tolgay who scored with no Salgaocar defender in the box.
Though, the Goans dominated the last 15-20 minutes, they had no chance with East Bengal parking the bus in front of the goal. Surprisingly still, Salgaocar put the ball at the back of the net in the 90th minute. Shockingly, for them, it was disallowed as the striker Yusif had fouled the East Bengal goalkeeper. "The penalty was definitely the turning point but people who saw television replays told me that it was exaggerated, shouldn't have been allowed but the players did all they could against a confident Bengal side in their first real test," Bencherifa said after the match.
Heroics not enough
In the match between JCT Phagwara and Garhwal Heroes, striker Baoru Keke Ibrahim was the star achiever as he scored his second goal in the 90th minute to help his team win 2-1 and cruise into the semifinal. Though Garhwal Heroes played way above their position, lack of finishing cost them dearly.
Source: Web Search
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