MARGAO: Salgaocar Sports Club eased the pressure to a great extent with a 4-1 drubbing of a listless East Bengal to garner three crucial points in the I-League match played at Nehru stadium Fatorda on Monday.
Headed goals by midfielder Cajetan Fernandes and Iranian defender Rouhollah Samienia on typical set pieces set the tone for the hosts, but it was Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa’s superb brace in seven minutes that totally destroyed East Bengal. Winger Sanju Pradhan was the lone scorer for the Bengal giants, who crashed to yet another embarrassing defeat.
Salgaocar set up a fast pace, exploiting the strange formation of East Bengal coach Philippe de Ridder who used three central defenders with no cover on the flanks. Defender Mherajuddin Waddo under pressure committed a foul in Ekene in the 10th minute, on the edge of the box, and the local side utilized the dead ball situation fruitfully. Winger Francis Fernandes curled in a low free-kick which was met with a smart header by Cajetan Fernandes as the ball looped over the out of position rival keeper Abhra Mondal to put Salgaocar ahead.
There was plenty of action on either flanks as Francis and Lester Fernandes tormented East Bengal with their swift movements and five minutes after the opener, Salgaocar got the second in similar fashion. This time East Bengal’s Ghanian stopper Uga Okpara was at fault to bring down Mandjou Keita on the left flank. Francis and Lester positioned themselves and as the rival defence was expecting Francis to deliver it was Lester who suddenly sent in a low free-kick in the box which was glanced by a diving Rouhoolah Samiena past Abhra Mondal.
East Bengal never expected such a battering but the Bengal outfit ,despite their low morale, were able to reduce the margin in the 27th minute through Sanju Pradhan as the winger receiving a Bekhokhei pass easily turned past Samienia to place the ball beyond the reach of Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey. The visitors would’ve been on level terms before the change of ends but experienced medio Mehatab Hussain wasted an absolute sitter.
Salgaocar started the second session with little bit of caution but the shaky East Bengal rearguard virtually gifted a goal to the rivals in the 52nd minute. Samienia lifted a high ball deep from his own territory into the opponent’s box where Meharajudinn as well as Okpara were in poor position to cut only for an unmarked Ekene to head towards the target.At the first instance it appeared that Abhara will make the collection easily, however, the diminutive East Bengal keeper lost his footing at the vital moment and had the misfortune to see the ball jostling inside the nylons. It may be a soft goal but it created the much-needed impetus to the green brigade and five minutes later Nigerian Ekene Ikenwa provide the killer blow by giving the finishing touches to a gem of a pass by the hardworking winger Francis Fernandes.
After that, East Bengal were just playing for the time but in between Salgaocar keeper Kalyan Chaubey demonstrated his abilities with two breathtaking saves to deny Yusuf Yakubu the honour of getting on
the scoring list.
