Kolkata: East Bengal registers crucial win over desperate Patha Chakra, as Khalid Jamil’s team replaces Mohun Bagan to go on the top of the points table with a 2-1 victory in the Calcutta Football League Premier A Division game today.
East Bengal started the game very positively. The combination of Mahmoud Al Amna, Surabbudin Mullick and Brendon created various chances to put Patha Chakra on the back-foot. Syrian Mahmoud Al Amna himself created a number of chances, but the failure of the Red and Gold forwards let them down in the initial minutes.
It was Patha Chakra, who took the lead in the 41st minute, when Joel Sunday rattled Samad Ali Mullick on the right to find an ‘unmarked’ Jagannath Oraon. Even the experience of Gurwinder Singh was not enough to save Khalid Jamil’s team from conceding the opening goal.
East Bengal crawled back into the game in the 46th minute when Mahmoud Al Amna’s free kick was failed to gather properly by the Patha Chakra goalkeeper. Young Brendon made no mistake to pull off a sensational finish to make it 1-1 for East Bengal.
East Bengal resumed the second half vigorously as tides of attacks literally started to destroy the opposition defense. Patha Chakra goalkeeper Suvam Roy came as the barrier for a number of occasions to stop Khalid Jamil’s team from taking the lead. Joby Justin’s shot came off the cross bar in the 47th minute.
East Bengal got their prize of putting the incessant pressure in the 87th minute when Mahmoud Al Amna was fouled inside the box by Patha Chakra defender Victor Kamhuka. Al Amna made no mistake to score the winning goal for East Bengal to make it 2-1.
The win gives East Bengal the advantage for the first time this season as the are now sitting on the top of the ladder with 18 points off 6 games.