Internet Desk: The pressure was mounting after a stumbling draw against Aizwal FC, but Kingfisher East Bengal responded in their usual style against a competitive DSK Shivajians as Wedson Anselme and Wlillis Plaza showed their class in the all important game. East Bengal’s Haitian midfielder showed his class immediately after Trevor Morgan conferred him his preferred position against the Pune outfit on Saturdaynight and that is to play him on the right wing. The midfielder created constant threat from the opening minute of the game through his speedy dribbling runs from the right. The Red & Gold brigade got a penalty in the 14th minute as Anselme was fouled by a diving Poirei as his pace got the better of the home team keeper’s judgement. The Haitian made no mistake from the spot to give East Bengal the opening goal of the match. On the other hand Plaza scored a magnificent winning goal to give the Red & Gold brigade the first win of the league.
Despite trailing by a goal, the Shivajians had East Bengal camped in their own half with Good possession, but unable to penetrate the final third of the visitors. In the 31st minute, a low, right footed effort from the edge of the box by Ansleme, saw the Reds’ keeper diving low to his left to deflect a seemingly goal bound effort.
In the 45th minute, East Bengal had another crack at goal through Anselme. A free-kick conceded at the opposite end of the pitch this time by Nirmal Chhetri, sees Anselme step up soem 20 yards from gal and curl the ball over the bar.
DSK Shivajians equalized through Gourmangi Singh in the 64th minute. A dangerous ball in by Quero was first headed on by Sasha Kounja at pont blank range, as the entire East Bengal defense was caught ball watching. Rehnesh saved his team on the first question, with a superb save. However, Gouramangi Singh was the fastest to the rebound, beating Bheke to it, and placed in the equalizer past the hapless East Bengal keeper.
East Bengal scored a sublime goal to take the lead in the 80th minute when Trinidad & Tobago international Willis Plaza received the ball on the edge of the box, and placed a beauty of a shot into the lower bottom corner, past the out-stretched hand of Poirei to help the East Bengal fans in the stadium go delirious.
In the 86th minute, Robin Singh out-muscled everyone on a run into the DSK box and palyed up to Jackichand Singh. The later took the curling effort that Poirei made an acrobatic effort to prevent from going into the net.
The inspirational performance not only helped East Bengal to get the first victory of the league but also will give a lot of confidence ahead of their next away game versus Churchill Brothers.