Ranti Martins Star In East Bengal’s Emphatic Win Over Sporting Clube De Goa

Ranti Martins made it very Easy for East Bengal to Win the Game

Ranty-Martins-01
Ranty Martins was the star for East Bengal against Sporting Clube De Goa . Image Source : Xtra Time

Kolkata: Nigerian goal machine Ranti Martins announced his presence in the Hero I league with a brace to help East Bengal break the Goa jinx. It was due to Ranty’s effort that Red and Golds prevailed over its Goan opponent after trailing by 0-1 down at half time. East Bengal registered an emphatic win over Sporting Clube de Goa by 3-1 in their round one I-League clash played at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda, Margao-Goa, on Sunday.

East Bengal coach Biswajit Bhattacharya was a satisfied man after the match. The East Bengal gaffer’s pep-talk during the breather worked wonders for his players. “I just told my boys to put in that extra effort, as I sensed the Sporting defense is vulnerable. I just emphasized on a collective game.”

Easily the star for East Bengal today, Ranti was in some sort of concern as he was elbowed by Ravanan during the match. The Nigerian had to be rushed for treatment as he was feeling uneasy to talk. Such was the nature of impact that he had an inflammation in his neck. He was finding it difficult to drink water even. The team management is not taking any chances with his injury as he will be taken to a reputed doctor on Monday for further treatment. Coach Biswajit Bhattacharya still feels Ranti will only get better with few more matches, “I still believe Ranti has the potentiality to play even better than what he did today. He can be a real threat for the other side” warned Biswajit.

It was the hosts Sporting Club de Goa who took the lead in the 29th minute through Odafa Okolie. But the Kolkata outfit led by Ranti Martins (67′, 81′) and Bikash Jairu (78′) made a strong comeback in the second half to take the match away.

Mateus Costa kept Arindam Bhattacharya, Loveday Okechukwu and Dharmaraj Ravanan who were all making their debuts for Sporting in the starting eleven. While his counterpart, Biswajit Bhattacharya, went ahead with new signings Rehenesh TP, Sehnaj Singh and Bello Rassaq East Bengal’s man for all seasons Mehtab Hossain did not feature in the playing eleven. Coach Biswajit Bhattachrya confirmed, “Mehtab was not kept in the eleven as he complained about an injury today morning. He is still my best player in the team.”

The game got off to a great start with both sides going on the offensive immediately. Sporting had a great chance in the first minute after Mauvin Borges’ cross was attacked by Amna, but his header did not trouble Rehenesh TP. Minutes later, it was East Bengal’s turn, courtesy of good link-up play between Bikash Jairu and Ranti Martins.

Sporting’s Dharmaraj Ravanan missed a golden chance in the 11th minute to give his side the lead after a confusion in the East Bengal box. Despite the Goan side having an upper hand in the first fifteen minutes, East Bengal slowly clawed back into the match with a better ball possession

Much against the run of play, Sporting got the lead through Odafa Okolie in the 29thminute .The Nigerian after receiving a pass from Pratesh Shirdokar edged past the East Bengal defense to calmly slot it beyond Rehenesh. East Bengal agreed his side did not play well in the first half, “Both Sehnaz and Khabra were playing together for the first time. They will need a few more matches to combine well. Moreover Khabra was mentally down as he lost his grandmother few days back. But then I am very impressed with the performance of Samad Ali Mullick. Rafique also played an outstanding match after coming in as a replacement.”

East Bengal trailing by 0-1 at the breather looked to take control of proceedings. Harmanjyot Khabra and Sehnaj Singh were given specific roles to assist Ranty Martins who was not getting enough help in the first half.

Biswajit Bhattacharya’s strategy reaped dividends as Martins put his name on the score sheet in the 67th minute of the match. His header from a Do Dong corner went past Sporting custodian Arindam Bhattacharya.

Do Dong Hyun had a glorious chance to give East Bengal the lead. The South Korean beat his marker well at the far post after the ball came in from the left wing, but his connection lacked direction.

In the 79th minute, Bikas Jairu put the Red and Golds ahead. The winger latched onto a lose clearance by the Sporting defense to pass it to Ranti Martins who slipped it past Cajetan Ferandes to Jairu again. The winger made no mistake as he fired the ball past Arindam to give East Bengal the all important lead.

Ranti Martins scored his second goal of the match two minutes later, to make it 3-1 for East Bengal. Ranti scored from a Do Dong assist to seal the match for the Red and Golds, thereby breaking its Goan jinx which have haunted them for last few seasons in I league.

East Bengal will be staying in Goa till January 14 before flying out to Mumbai to play against its next opponents Mumbai FC on January 17.