Barasat: East Bengal’s dreams of regaining the Federation Cup 2016 under Trevor Morgan’s stint ended after they drew with Shillong Lajong FC 2-2 (Agg: 3-4) in Barasat on Wednesday. Fabio Pena (16′)opened the scoring for the highlanders from a penalty before Ranti Martins (23′) found the equaliser from again a penalty. Dika (36′) scored the second goal for the Red and Gold and put them ahead. In the dying minutes of extra time Uilliams (116′) scored the equaliser which was the eminent winner for the highlanders.
It was an end-to-end start to the game. First, Isaac Vanmalsawma fed Fabio Pena, after a good run on the right flank; but the Brazilian only managed to test East Bengal’s goalkeeper, Rehenesh. Then at the other end, Narayan Das’ wicked delivery into the box was almost sneaked in by the charging Harmanjot Khabra and the diving, Ranti Martins.
But, against the run of play, Thangboi Singto’s men were instead awarded a spot-kick when Bipin Singh’s cross into the box was handled by Deepak Mondal. It was a good, hard and low penalty converted by Pena as Rehenesh scrambled to save it. Lajong, at this point in the match, were in a firm position to reach the next round.
There was further chaos as it was East Bengal’s turn to claim a spot-kick. Dong Hyun-Do’s attempted shot on goal hit Nimdorjee Tamang’s hand, and the referee immediately blew the whistle. Ranti Martins stepped up and slotted it very cleanly, as the goalkeeper dived at the opposite end.
Lalrindika Ralte curled in a brilliant second goal for Trevor Morgan’s men from the right. The balance was right and he did it with a lot of ease, after some neat play inside the Lajong penalty area with Dong Hyun-Do.
The first half ended with a strong attacking display from East Bengal, as the experienced campaigners stamped their dominance on the game as the aggregate score was tied at 3-3.
The second half began with the same (if not more) amount of intensity, as the first half ended with. Rehenesh made a match winning save soon after the restart. The first half Lajong substitute, Ulliams found himself in acres of space as he smashed the ball into the far corner from an acute angle; Bipin Singh was there to tap it in, but the winger failed to tap it in as the East Bengal keeper saved it with his stretching arms.
Trevor Morgan replaced Deepak Mondal with the exciting Frenchman, Bernard Mendy on the 63rd minute, to add more of an attacking threat into his side.
Although, at this point in the game it was looking like the game would stretch into extra time as East Bengal were missing woefully in front of goal. Rehenesh’s impressive display in defense was starting to look like it was all in vain.
Fabio Pena came very close to scoring a crucial goal for Shillong as his header at goal, hit the post. These were some heart in mouth moments for East Bengal, who had started to let a good display in the first half slip away.
There was yet another penalty shout in the game in vain, this time for East Bengal. Sanju Pradhan’s cross into the box was handled in the box, but the referee decided against a penalty for a third time in the game, despite having awarded two penalties earlier in the first half.
At the end of 90 minutes of display the match ended 2-1 ( Agg: 3-3). In the second half of extra-time, Uilliams chested a cross from Penn Orji and struck it firmly into the back of the net to end East Bengal’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Bernard Mendy was involved in a chaos with the East Bengal fans after the match as the supporters taunted him saying “Go back Mendy.”