Kolkata: Mohammedan Sporting Club and East Bengal played out a 1-1 draw in a pre season friendly match, played at the Howrah Stadium on Friday. Coach Trevor Morgan
could not hide his disappointment after the match.
East Bengal drew the first blood through Mohammed Rafique. However, there is some controversy surrounding the goal as Jiten Murmu dragged the ball from at least 10-inches outside the touch line before playing it for Narayan Das who set up Rafique to head the opener in the 33rd minute.
The tactics of another foreign striker Do-Dong Hyun was also read clearly by all of the Mohammedan defenders. Following the tactics of Dong opponent defenders were tackling him by his left foot and could snatch the ball with ease.
There was also lack of understanding between the two central defenders Arnab Mondal and foreigner Calum Angus. As a result in today’s match Mohammedan Sporting took the grip of the match in the second half. Ivory Coast player of Md. Sporting Leonce Dodoz scored the equalizer following a foolishness from goalie Luis Barreto.
Post the match, coach Trevor Morgan said, “I am not at all happy with the performance from the boys. Its a big headache for me whether it be the striking line or the defense. Time is very short so we need to recover the errors ahead of the first match in the CFL on the 4th August against Bhawanipur FC.”
Meanwhile, Mohammedan SC looked more purposeful. The attacking trio of Leonce Dodoz, Manvir Singh and Dipendu Dowary ran riot against a formidable East Bengal defense, and East Bengal citadel lived dangerously as Manvir and Dipankar missed back to back chances to equalize in just span of three minutes.
On the other hand, South Sudanese striker James Moga will not be available for the Black Panthers in the CFL as he has some visa issues due to the civil war in South Sudan. However, the team will have their French recruitment Alexander will join during the CFL who had come for trials few days back. However, he will miss the first match on 5th August against Army XI.
Mohammedan SC XI: Vinay Singh (GK), Nitesh Chhikara, Rana Gharami (c), Lancine Toure, Kamran Farooque, Dipendu Dowray, Mumtaz Akhtar, Dipankar Das, Imarn Khan, Manvir Singh, Leonce Dodoz.
East Bengal XI: Luis Barreto (GK), Samad Ali Mallick, Callum Angus, Gurwinder Singh, Narayan Das, Avinash Ruidas, Mehtab Hossain, Mohammed Rafique, Do Dong Hyun, Lalrindika Ralte, Jiten Murmu.