EB & flow: Final date with Lajong

All’s well that ends well. Cornered and criticised throughout the season, East Bengal finally restored pride and confidence, defeating archrivals and defending champions Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the second semifinal of the Federation Cup here on Thursday.

All’s well that ends well.

Cornered and criticised throughout the season, East Bengal finally restored pride and confidence, defeating archrivals and defending champions Mohun Bagan 2-0 in the second semifinal of the Federation Cup here on Thursday.

Belgian coach Philippe De Ridder’s strategy of frustrating forwards Edeh Chidi and Jose Barreto by denying them a clear look at the goal and a shocking penalty miss by the latter added to Mohun Bagan’s woes. That defender Deepak Mondal limped off 30 minutes into the match also didn’t help their cause either.

East Bengal now take on debutants Lajong FC in Sunday’s final — their second appearance in three editions.

Although East Bengal wrested the advantage in the initial phase of the encounters, Alvito D’Cunha’s substitution, following a knee injury in the 23rd minute, saw the balance of the match tilt in Bagan’s favour.

Barreto, Chidi and Sueocka Ryuiji got into the act quickly and the trio threatened to shake the East Bengal defence.
Ryuji headed in a Barreto centre off a Chidi through, but East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal lunged forward to collect it.

Chidi also tried to make a mark but he drove wide from the far post.

Those were minor aberrations, though. The East Bengal defence played outstanding football and Nigerian stopper-back, Uga Opara, successfully stopped Barreto’s charge. Glued to the Brazilian, Opara hardly allowed him the space to manoeuvre around the East Bengal box.

Mehrajuddin Wadoo stuck to his job of negating the threats with sky-high clearances, while sweeper Saumik Dey’s frequent overlaps kept the East Bengal flanks mobile.

Despite a solid performance delivered by the defenders, there was only one glitch. In an attempt to stop Ishfaq Ahmed from breaking free, skipper Syed Rahim Nabi brought down the Kashmiri inside the box. Barreto stepped up to take the penalty but missed, stunning the 1,000-odd fans in the Mohun Bagan gallery.

East Bengal struck near the hour mark. Central midfielder Sanju Pradhan sent a curling corner-kick that was headed down by Subash Singh to Yusif Yakubu who slotted home past Bagan goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee.

The Ghanaian threatened to strike again 10 minutes later when he broke free with a loose ball but was ultimately intercepted by defender Sagram Mandi.

Bhaichung Bhutia couldn’t have had a more dramatic entry when, in the 78th minute, he ran in from the touchline to almost tap in the second goal.