Internet Desk: Despite going down a goal in the match, Coach Mridul Banerjee’s Bengal secure all three points with a 2-1 win over Chhattisgarh in their first qualifying match of Santosh Trophy East Zone.
Both the teams failed to score in the first-half of the game. Chhattisgarh took the lead at 65th minute of the game with an error from Bengal goal-keeper Shankar Roy. Bengal fought back in just 7 minutes, as Bishak Pradhan scored the equalizer from a through of Sagnik Murmu. At the dying minutes of the game a Chhattisgarh defender fouled Bengal’s Rahul Paswan inside their penalty box. Referee didn’t hesitate to award a penalty to Bengal, as East Bengal forward Jiten Murmu sealed the victory for Bengal from the penalty spot.
After the match while talking to xtratime Bengal coach Mridul Banerjee said, “We got only four days of practice after all the players joined the camp. We have played our first match of the tournament against Chhattisgarh without any practice match. I am more than happy with their performance.”
Bengal will face Odhisa in their second qualifying match on January 2, 2017.