New Delhi: A long range strike from India international Lalrindika Ralte gave East Bengal a hard-fought 1-0 win over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in their Round 10 clash of the Airtel I-League in Kolkata on Sunday evening.
The season’s first Kolkata derby produced very few scoring chances but Ralte’s 73rd-minute winner gave Armando Colaco a winning start as East Bengal coach.
Playing in front of an 80,000 strong crowd, both teams were a little cautious during the first half.
East Bengal were seeing more of the ball but were kept at bay for most part by a well organised Mohun Bagan backline.
The best chance of the opening half fell to Bagan when skipper Odafa Okolie set up striker Eric Muranda with a through pass but the Kenyan’s effort was well saved by East Bengal goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal. Bagan midfielder Katsumi Yusa’s shot from the rebound was also blocked by Mondal.
East Bengal’s best opportunity of the half came just a few minutes before the interval when Ralte’s lobbed pass sent Ryuji Sueoka behind the rival defence but Bagan custodian Shilton Paul pulled off a nice save.
Ralte finally broke the deadlock when he found himself in possession in the midfield and produced a well-taken lofted shot which beat the Bagan keeper to find the net.
( Source : dc )
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