I-League 2018/19: Sensational East Bengal clinch brilliant win over Churchill, lighten the title hopes alive

XtraTime Web Desk: Quess East Bengal comes from behind to register a sensational win over mighty Churchill Brothers by 2-1 at the Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Thursday to jump back into the title race. Two great strikes from Jaime Santos Collado and Lalrindika Ralte puts East Bengal on the 2nd spot of the points table with 15 points off 8 games. Chennai City is now just three points clear of them on the top.

It was just the 3rd minute on the clock when Willis Plaza scored for Churchill Brothers to give them a 1-0 lead. Dawda Ceesay sent a low cross inside the box for Plaza who beat Borja Gomes and scored past Rakshit Dagar.

East Bengal’s new Spaniard Jaime Santos Collado equalized in the 35th minute with a world-class finish. Lalrindika curled a corner on the edge of the box and Santos fired a thumping volley to make it 1-1 for the Kolkata giant.

East Bengal dominated the game since they scored the equalizing goal. Some eye-catching movements led by Jaime Santos Collado simply rattled the Goan outfit.

East Bengal got their reward in the 79th minute when Lalrindika Ralte gave East Bengal the lead. Didika curled the ball into the net directly from the free-kick with Collado and Jobby went to fox Vignesh, the Churchill custodian.

East Bengal’s substitute forward Bali Gagandeep was shown a red card in the 90th minute of the game for an elbow to a Churchill defender. The referring had been pathetic, as Khalid Aucho and Anthony Wolfe, the two Churchill forwards made rash fouls, pushed the referee on occasions and Wolfe specially stabbed twice on the leg of Samad Ali Mullick. Unfortunately, the referee still allowed them to stay on the pitch.

In the end, East Bengal played one of the best games of the season with Kassim Aidara and Jaime Santos played outstandingly well. Though the East Bengal gaffer would be worried about Rakshit Dagar for his deplorable show between the sticks.

The win brings East Bengal right back into the contest with just three points shy of the league-leaders Chennai City. They will next play 3rd placed Real Kashmir FC on 28th December.