Barasat: Everyone expected this to be a pulse beating contest and the two giants of Indian football didn’t let their fans down with some breathtaking football. The Bengaluru FC side started with a favourite tag in this game but Kingfisher East Bengal had their pride and tradition to reply in their usual fashion. An inspired Robin Singh changed the complexion of the game with a memorable performance against his former team to win the hearts of a million Red and Gold supporters across the globe. A 2-1 victory is not just the precise picture of the game as the home side might just played one of the best games under Trevor James Morgan’s coaching career.
BFC started the game with some serious intent and Sunil Chettri tested the skills of the East Bengal custodian as early as in the 12th minute when Rehenesh made a fine save. The Blues got another chance in the 16th minute when Gurwinder Singh made a superb clearance to deny CK Vineeth from scoring.
Bengaluru got the lead in the 23rd minute when Sena Ralte made a superb solo run from the left and found CK Vineeth, who scored his 4th goal of this competition with a precision finish.
East Bengal responded quite immediately when Ugandan defender Ivan Bukenye scored the all important equalizer. It was a fine move started from Wedson and Dika made a fine run from the left to find a cross for Bukenye, who didn’t make any mistake to tap the ball at the back of the net.
Bengaluru got another great opportunity in the 43rd minute when Eugeneson Lyngdoh fired a powerful shot from the right but Rehenesh made a magnificent save to prevent the goal.
East Bengal brought in Robin Singh at the start of the second half and the Indian international changed the complexion of the game on his own. Morgan’s team got three back to back golden opportunities in the 57th minute when Mehtab played a delightful through for Nikhil Poojary, but the U22 missed a sitter. In the 63rd minute, it was Plaza again who failed to beat an onrushing Amrinder Singh. In the 67th minute, Nikhil Poojary made a darting run from the right to play it for Plaza who passed a great ball to Wedson, but the Haitian failed to connect the shot.
In the 69th minute, substitute Robin Singh fired a thumping left footer, which needed a world class save by the BFC custodian to save the danger. The luck of fortune turned its face in the 73rd minute when his outstanding left footer came off the cross bar.
Robin made another serious impact when his dream cross for Plaza on the far post was not connected by the Caribbean.
The illusive moment came in the 79th minute when Robin Singh scored a phenomenal individual goal to secure a sensational victory for the Red and Gold brigade.
In the 90th minute Wedson Anselme took a sensational attempt toaards the goal but a superb save from Amrinder denied him to extend the lead. In the 93rd minute Wedson played a fantastic ball for Plaza but the Caribbean missed another sitter to put his name on the scoresheet.
The performance of the entire team and particularly Robin Singh in the forward line would certainly please the East Bengal gaffer Trevor Morgan who got a lot of criticism after the first three games.
More than a victory, a second spot, the three points, this game will certainly give the Kingfisher East Bengal side the belief, the charm, the rhythm and more importantly the confidence to relive their illusive title hopes which they have never touched.