Manjeri: Bengaluru FC were thrown out of the Federation Cup as Edeh Chidi’s second-half double helped East Bengal defeat Sunil Chhetri’s men 2-0 in the Group ‘B’ match here on Tuesday.
With Sporting Clube de Goa winning the match against Rangdajied United FC, East Bengal were also shown the exit doors, with the Goans found their place in the semifinals from the group. Sporting progressed to the last four with 6 points while BFC ended their campaign with 4 points.
Needing a win to progress to the last four, Bengaluru team squandered two penalties while Edeh Chidi’s long ranger sealed the hopes of them.
Living up to the expectations of about 20,000 spectators, including a pack of travelling Bengaluru FC fans, the match was played in high spirits with East Bengal and BFC making frequents inroads to each other’s boxes.
East Bengal made the first major move when their striker Edeh Chidi fired a power-packed shot from the box but the Nigerian was unlucky as he missed the target by an inch.
Bengaluru FC responded in a similar move as Meyongar’s shot, taken just outside from the box, missed the target by a whisker. Sean Rooney tapped in a corner in the 14th minute but the BFC celebration was cut short as the linesman called offside.
Both the teams battled for possession, and went on attacking whenever they got a chance. Sunil Chhetri conducted some awesome strides to the East Bengal post but the Kolkata side defended it well. Thoi Singh had a good chance in the 31st minute but his curly shot was just wide. At the other end, East Bengal strikers Edeh Chidi and James Moga were in an impressive form but were not able to break the deadlock in the first half.
The second half had more drama to offer and Bengaluru team led the attacks at the start. Sunil Chhetri was on an impressive run to goal but East Bengal skipper Uga Okpara pulled his counterpart in the box to award Bengaluru penalty. But BFC skipper, who took the kick, fired it straight to the keeper and a golden chance to find the lead was squandered.
In reply, East Bengal forwards thronged the Bengaluru box and Moga almost scored but his bullet shot from the box hit the crossbar. Finally, East Bengal found the lead as Edeh Chidi took a 25-yard shot beating the Bengaluru custodian in the 62nd minute.
Bengaluru soon lost the tempo of their game and the Kolkata team took control by repeated attacks. Ten minutes later, Chidi did a better replica of the first goal, when he again beat the Bengaluru goalie from a perfect long-ranger.
In the final minutes, Sean Rooney was fouled in the East Bengal box but he, who took the kick, was unable to convert it, giving East Bengal their first win in the tourney.
Sporting win
Earlier, second half goals by Boima Karpeh and Victorino Fernandes helped Sporting notch their second win.
A blunder by RandÂaÂjÂied custodian Surjay ParÂiyar gifted Sporting the lead in the 54th minute as he misjudged a lob from Boima KarÂpÂeh from the left to put the Goans in the lead. Just two minutes after the goal, Victorino FernanÂdÂes sent a power-packed shot into the back of the net but the goal was ruled offside.
However, he got a good opportunity in the 72nd minute as the forward took the ball from the midfield and beat a couple of defenders before besting the goalie to make it 2-0.
Results: Shillong Lajong FC 4 (Glen Cornell 16, 53, 90; Boithang Haokip 24) bt Mumbai FC 0, Sporting Clube de Goa 2 (Boima Karpeh 54, Victorino Fernanades 70) bt Rangdajied United 0, Mohun Bagan 1 (Odafa Okolie 58) drew with Salgaocar SC 1 (Bikash Jairu 79), Bengaluru FC 0 lt to East bengal 2 (Chidi Edeh 62, 72)
