Match Review:
East Bengal hosted unbeaten Bengaluru FC on a day where elements played its whimps on a day when Bengal was battered with heavy rains and clouds loomed dark over beautiful Kalyani stadium.East Bengal needed a win as they looked to bounce back from their AFC Cup and I league loss to Dempo.EB Coach Falopa made some changes as Uga Opara was out with a red card,Arnab and Saumik sidelined due to injury.There was a new backline as Gurwinder paired with Raju Gaiakwad at the centre back while Abhisekh Das was in charge of right back and Robert Lalthamluana played as left back. Harmanjot Khabra made it back to starting XI after a long layoff to play as a blocking midfielder with captain Mehtab Hussain.Dika and Lobo played as attacking medios with James Moga playing as lone striker with Chidi playing behind Moga as a withdrawal forward in a 4-4-1-1 formation.After a heavy downpour the pitch was sloppy as free flowing passing football was very difficult and Bengaluru FC who plays most of their home games on artificial turf struggled to get in terms with the wet and sloggy natural pitch.
EB looked better adapted to the conditions and Lobo and Dika were particularly impressive pushing the ball forward through some neat passing and feeding supply to Moga and Chidi.Moga seemed to have lost his golden touch for most of the match as he looked a tad slow and poaching instincts missing as he tried to finish couple of chances but shot them well wide.Chidi looked a bit out of place in his new position as a withdrawal forward as he had to collect most of his balls from centre half and link up play was missing.EB played well from box to box but lost steam in final third due to poor finishing of Moga and Chidi.
First half ended goalless as post break EB looked to take control of the game and got a few corner.The deadlock was broken on 49th minute when East Bengal got a corner and Lalrindika's in curler was directed in his own net by former EB boy Robin Singh to give EB 1-0 lead.
JSW Bengaluru tried to look for an equalizer with Menyongar making some darting runs to create some openings and tried to get some attack going from both flanks with Hangal and Beikokhoi.Keegan Perreira was impressive with his attacking as well as his defensive duties in midfield.But Bengaluru forward Sunil and Sean Rooney were marked well in their attacking third as Raju and Gurwinder looked solid at back and Mehtab-Khabra defensive screen denied any free space to create openings.Robin Singh got a chance to make amends as he got a loose ball in the box but his volley rebounded of the bar.Abhijit Mondal made some good saves to deny Sean Rooney chances to score.
As Bengaluru FC looked for any oportunity to sneak away with one point James Moga and Kevin Lobo combined well from a quick counter attack and Moga controlled the ball outside the right corner of the box,rounded off the defender and unleashed a powerful shot as goalkeeper Pawan Kumar had no chance as the ball crashed at the back of the net,the goal provided much respite to the South Sudanese striker who couple of days back was at the centre of all wrath of EB fans for his poor show in AFC cup game.
2 goals and 03 points against table toppers puts EB nicely into the contention of the I league as they look to host Salgaocar FC in their next game
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