Dudu's last gasp header wins all three points for East Bengal

East Bengal had to wait till 93rd-minute to break the deadlock of a resolute Indian Arrows side to bag three points at Barasat stadium on Sunday (04 February 2018)

East Bengal went into the match looking for all three points to be in title contention for the Hero I-League trailing 4 points in the league table from NEROCA FC.

Coach Khalid Jamil started with Dudu Omagbemi and Jobby Justin upfront while Katsumi Yusa and Laldanmawia Ralte on both the flanks while Ansumana Koromah slotted in behind the two strikers in the playmaker's role.

Arrows Coach deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation playing Rahim Ali as a lone striker supported from behind by the attacking trio of Aniket Jadhav, Rahul Balan and Abhijit Sarkar.

Indian Arrows showed compact shape in their playing formation as they stopped any free-flowing football in the attacking third to deny East Bengal creating any build up.

Dudu had a chance to give East Bengal the lead on the 25th minute when Kevin Lobo's cross found the striker within 6 yards box but the ageing striker failed to make proper connection resulting in an easy save for Arrows keeper Prabhsukan Gill.

Having spilt an easy chance earlier, Dudu found himself with space on the edge of the box on the 35th minute but the ball crashed the far post and was cleared by defender Jitender Singh.

Having ended the first half goalless, Khalid Jamil inducted Samad Ali Mullick and  Brandon Vanlalremdika to inject some pace and width to the attack but the resolute Arrows defence showed resolute defending as the young centre-back duo of Anwar Ali and Jitender Singh won most of the aerial battle and interceptions.

East Bengal failed to make use of a couple of dangerous free kicks just outside the box and plenty of corners that Arrows conceded throughout the game.With the clock running down to the additional time and vocal East Bengal fans expressing their disappointment for the Coach and their players, it seemed that match was headed for another disappointing draw.Until a long ball from substitute Rafiq on 93rd minute found Dudu's head and a looping header foxed the advancing goalkeeper Prabsukhan Gill to land at the back of the net to hand East Bengal 1-0 win and three crucial points.

The goal was virtually the last kick off the match as the referee called for full time after the kick off as the young boys from AIFF's developmental side went down fighting against the mighty East Bengal, who are now placed third on the league table with 23 point from 13 games.