East Bengal rally to
hold Mahindra United

Omolaja Olalekan's goal midway through the second session enabled defending champions East Bengal hold Mumbai giants Mahindra United 1-1 in the National Football League at the Cooperage, in Mumbai, on Friday.

East Bengal were in danger of losing their second consecutive match when they trailed for 67 minutes after Isa Eroje drove a right footer home to give the local side the lead in the 13th minute.

The Calcutta side was rattled in the very first minute by Mahindra's new import Bala Usman's shot, which India goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee managed to dive and save in the nick of time. And before the India 'keeper could brush the dust off his jersey, Venkatesh sent in a high ball, which Mukherjee, almost on second thought, punched over.

Mahindra were so dominant in the opening stages of the match, and for most part for that matter, that they had another chance to score in the 11th minute. This time Austin Okolo, on the half turn, despatched a fierce volley towards the East Bengal goal, but Sangram did well to save.

However, there was not much Sangram could do two minutes later, with Eroje's crackling shot deflecting off a defender into the goal. Sangram had already moved in the direction of the flight of the ball but was wrong-footed by the deflection.

Mahindras continuted to harrass Sangram as captain Falguni Dutta was unable to marshal his defence. East Bengal were lucky that Usman missed an Okolo through near the goal and a minute before the break. Sangram desperately clutched the ball as it trickled from a Mahindra player's legs.

The lemon time imputs of the coach and suggestions of several others, as is the case when any Calcutta team plays, had no effect as the East Bengal defence continued to be outsmarted and the forwards were not in place to receive the few passes sent by I M Vijayan.

On the other hand Okola kept sneaking in and once a Venkatesh shot went over the East Bengal's bar.

It was left to substitute Bijen Singh to finally breach Mahindra's defence, so well looked after Habib Adukunle, Eroje and Tapan Ghosh, in the 60th minute.

Olalkean was right in the midst of the goal and lunged to head home. The defence crack came when Eroje clashed with an East Bengal player and had to be carried away. He anyway will miss the next match as he had collected his second yellow card a few minutes earlier.

In the opposition ranks captain Dutta also got a yellow card.

Even after the goal Sangram's headaches continued as Okolo beat him in a tackle but the intended push went astray.

It was the third match for both the teams. Mahindra have five points from a victory and two draws while East Bengal have four from a win and a draw.

PHOTOGRAPH: Jewela C Miranda.

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