East Bengal beat Air India 3-1 in I-League

KOLKATA: East Bengal recovered from an early slump and pump in three goals in the second-half to drub Air India 3-1 in the ONGC I-League football tournament at Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK) at Salt Lake on Saturday.
Today's win helped East Bengal close in on Air India with 16 points in their kitty from 14 matches, while the latter remained on 17.
As the East Bengal defenders put up a sloppy show during the first half of the match, the Airmen failed to capitalise on the situation.
Much credit for grounding the Airmen go to East Bengal's substitute Sanju Pradhan, who replaced Jayanta Sen.
The medio was instrumental in the first goal as Yusif Yakubu scored the first goal in 48th minute off Pradhan's brilliant pass.
Yakubu netted his second in 81st minute after Sunil Chhetri scored the second goal in 56th minute.
Air India had the only consolation goal through Subhash Singh two minutes before the end of regulation time.
East Bengal held on to a goalless scoreline, even as Bimal Ghosh's boys created more chances.
Air India looked to score in the fourth minute from Subhas who led the attack. Otherwise quick, Subhas, failed to finish it with East Bengal custodian Abhijit Mondal saving it.
They had the best chance in 15th minute, but their skipper Chukwuma Udofia messed up a goalmouth opportunity.
A jittery Bhowmick brought in Sanju, who eventually changed the course of the match.
The battle intensified, and in the bargain, Mehraj Din Wadoo pushed to pull down Emanuel Ovieghara for a free kick on the edge of the box.
The former JCT duo of Chhetri and Rennedy Singh combined well with the former holding on to the ball to take East Bengal 2-0 up.
Sanju, who was adjudged Man-of-the-Match, completed the tally.
Subash reduced the margin which resulted from a free-kick in the 88th minute, but it was too late by then.