by
Second half strikers from Penn Orji and Tolgay Ozbey helped Kingfisher East Bengal their seventh win of the season against the hosts Chirag United Kerala at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi in the eleventh round of the I-League on Friday.
The win takes the Red & Gold to 23 points from 11 matches while Chirag stay at the bottom of the table with one point from same number of matches.
Both the teams started cautiously and employed defensive tactics. The first half saw few attempts to score. Though some clear chances were made, but the strikers’ inability to hit the goal mouth, lead the score to remain at 0-0 at the lemon break.
The second half saw improved display by East Bengal. Their defensive back line along with defensive midfielder Sushanth Mathew gave Chirag minimal chances on goal in the second period.
The Red and Gold went ahead six minutes into the second half, when on a corner from Raisangmi Vashum, Penn Orji made no mistake to put the ball in the goal post and giving his side the much desired lead.
Buoyed by the first goal East Bengal totally controlled the game and enjoyed had majority of the ball possession in the second half.
The only chance Chirag got in the second half was when Anil Kumar on a cross from Vineeth headed the ball toward goal post in 75th minute but it went over the bar.
The match saw some last minute action, as with four minutes of added time. The man in form Tolgay Ozbey doubled the lead for Kolkata’s side scoring from the spot, when he was brought down in the penalty area by Chirag’s goalie Sharath K. It was Australian’s ninth goal of the season.
Penn Orji was handed the man of the match award.
