East Bengal continue winning streak, qualify for Durand semis

Mon, Nov 01 10 07:38 PM

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) East Bengal stretched their winning streak to 18 matches after they defeated Salgaocar 2-1, to qualify for the semifinals of the 123rd Durand Cup Football Tournament, at the Ambedkar Stadium here today. Sanju Pradhan struck in the 62nd minute for the red and gold brigade while Tolgay Ozbey scored the team''s second goal six minutes later, to lead East Bengal to a come-from-behind victory, after Yusif Yakubu had put Salgaocar in lead with his 30th minute strike. After a shaky first half, where they let Yusif Yakubu unleash a neat header off Rocus Lamare''s corner in the half-hour mark, East Bengal found their bearings after the change of ends. Pradhan scored the equaliser for East Bengal, when he converted from the spot, after Ozbey was brought down by Khelemba Metei 16 minutes into the second half. What followed six minutes later turned out to be the moment of the match -- Mehtab Hossain, after dribbling past a couple of Salgaocar midfielders, delivered a splitting through to Ozbey, and the Australian converted with ease, from what looked like a difficult position. While the likes of Tomba Singh, Yakubu and Lamare called the shots in the first half, the show completely belonged to Ozbey and Co after the lemon break. If the experienced Yakubu caused problems for Trevor Morgan''s boys in the first half, Ozbey, with his speed and skills, troubled the Goans no end post the break. Led by Ozbey, East Bengal looked solid upfront; Hossain and Orgy Penn did their duty with aplomb in the midfield, often delivering some telling passes to the strikers; while Uga Okpara marshalled the defence in the best possible manner he could have. Sandip Nandy was not at his best and a fumble in the 78th minute, when the former India goalkeeper left his position to parry Marcus Mascarenhas''s attempt, nearly scuttled East Bengal''s plans. East Bengal, who will meet either Pune FC or Chirag United in the second semi-final on Thursday, will miss Mehtab after he received his second yellow card of the tournament, today. In the day''s earlier match, JCT beat Garhwal Heroes 2-1, to qualify for the semi-finals. JCT''s Nigerian recruit Baoru Keke Ibrahim scored one in the 16th minute and another in injury time, while Kamal Rawat found the net for Heroes in the 16th minute.

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