East Bengal defeated Mohammedan Sporting by a lone goal to win the Calcutta Football League premier ‘A’ division title for the seventh time in a row and better its own record.
East Bengal’s Korean midfielder Do Dong Hyme scored through a 72nd penalty in the match played under the scorching sun at the Kalyani Municipal Stadium on Thursday.
After Mohun Bagan’s refusal to play the derby match against East Bengal at the same venue on September 7, the latter needed just one point from its encounter against Mohammedan Sporting to claim the title.
Even though the Indian Football Association (IFA) decision on the abandoned match between the arch-rivals was pending, East Bengal’s victory on Thursday enabled it to remain undefeated, secure 24 points and bag the crown for the 38th time.
With better ball possession, East Bengal had the upper hand in the opening half. However, it was Mohammedan Sporting which came close to scoring twice moments before the half-time. Z. Dodoz was the chief architect of both the moves.
Dodoz continued to lead Mohammedan Sporting’s attacks until James Khaitan’s foul on Lalrindika Ralte gifted East Bengal a penalty. Du Dong had no problem in scoring his fourth goal and giving his team the much-desired lead.
In the replay of a match abandoned due to crowd disturbance on August 31, Tollygunge Agragami banked on Joel Sunday’s solitary strike to beat Mohun Bagan.
The results: East Bengal 1 (Do Dong Hyme 72) bt Mohammedan Sporting 0; Tollygunge Agragami 1 (Joel Sunday 32) bt Mohun Bagan 0.
Comments
SHARE