Barasat: Quess East Bengal starts off the new season in an emphatic fashion, as Ranjan Chowdhury’s U19 brigade registers a sensational win on penalty shootouts(4-2) to clinch the historic IFA Shield for the first time since 2012. Today, at a nail-biting contest against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, the Red and Brigade won the first Kolkata Derby as well as the first trophy of this season at the Barasat Stadium.
In the regulation time as well as the extra time, the match ended in 1-1. After a goal-less first half, Sourav Das gave Jo Paul Anchery’s Mariners the lead in the 47th minute with a precision finish from a fine throw in move. The moment Bagan started smelling their first trophy of the season, East Bengal’s Deep Saha tried his luck from 25 yards out, as the Green and Maroon custodian Asanja Daimari committed a howler to give East Bengal the opportunity to equalize.
In the tie-breaker, Bagan gaffer Anchery brought in Abhijit Debnath between the sticks for the nervous looking Daimari. Bagan fumbled in the penalties as well as they failed to score from their first two penalties. The first shot was off target and the second one was brilliantly stopped by Red and Gold goalkeeper Ayan Roy. Abhijit too made a save on the flip side, but that was not enough to lift them towards the glory.
The jubilations on the pitch surrounding East Bengal coach Ranjan Chowdhury narrated the story about how much it meant for the players and the fans who turned up to cheer for their favourite team.