East Bengal get job done in distant Goa

Margao: East Bengal would be tempted to look at the table and pinch themselves. Is this for real? Win the remaining four games in the Indian Super League (ISL), and the title is theirs for the first time.

East Bengal’s fluent 3-0 win against Odisha FC at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Tuesday took them to fourth on the ISL table with 18 points. The two teams above them, Mumbai City and FC Goa — 19 points each — have both played an additional game, but most importantly, leaders and eternal rivals Mohun Bagan SG are just two points ahead. Not surprisingly, there will be plenty at stake in the Derby next month.

Forced to play in Goa due to state assembly elections in Bengal, East Bengal played like the home team. They were the better side from start to finish and got the goals through Bipin Singh (11th minute) and a brace from Youssef Ezzejjari (‘70, ‘83).

Odisha were never in the contest. Coach TG Purushothaman chose Anuj Kumar in goal over the experienced Amrinder Singh. But while that decision had little bearing on the final result, the others did not measure up to the challenge.

East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon chose to start with three foreigners, while Anwar Ali was left on the bench for a much-needed rest. It hardly mattered that they were without some of their best players, including the suspended Miguel, as Bipin — playing his 150th match in the ISL — got at the right end of a perfect pass from PV Vishnu — playing his 50th — to tap home from handshaking distance.

Ten minutes later, Vishnu whipped in another perfect ball for Nandha Kumar, who should have done better than sending his header wide from close range.

Odisha’s first attempt on goal came towards the end of the first half with Rahim Ali forcing goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill into a diving save.

A one-goal lead is like sitting on a chair with three legs; it can never get comfortable. East Bengal were in a similarly awkward position with most of their efforts to score the second coming to nought.

Odisha keeper Anuj made two good saves from a one-on-one position. Then, East Bengal had the mightiest scare when Rahim got on to a long ball from Thoiba Singh but his attempt after moving past Jeakson Singh missed the target by the narrowest of margins.

Bruzon, meanwhile, made changes, introducing Jay Gupta, Basim Rashid, Youssef and Jerry Mawihmingthanga. Then the goals flowed.

Vishnu’s cross from the left was tipped away by the diving keeper to avoid an onrushing Jerry, but the ball fell kindly at the feet of Youssef who made no mistake.

East Bengal were now breathing a little easier. In the 83rd minute, Youssef volleyed home a cross from Bipin to score his second and the team’s third. No wonder the handful of travelling fans in the hands were singing his praises at the final whistle.