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East Bengal will rest its hopes on a favourable statistic when it looks to challenge the stupendous form of Churchill Brothers in the first semi-final of the 34th Federation Cup at the Kanchanjungha Stadium on Thursday.
A day after defending champion Salgaocar SC will seek to challenge the supposed invincibility of one of the most successful team of the country – Dempo SC. The predominance of Gao teams is the most striking aspect of the upcoming semi-finals, which arguably pit the four most formidable outfits of the country.
In the first match, East Bengal will attempt to check the threat of Churchill Brothers banking on its enviable record in the recent times. The Kolkata giant has won three titles reaching the six consecutive semi-finals, including the present one.
Looking at its scrappy showing at the group league stage, East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan teasingly referred his side an underdog when he was quizzed about his side’s chances against Churchill Brothers. “Their players especially Beto (Roberto Mendes Silva) and Akram (Moghrabi) are in excellent form and we really have to find a way to restrict them,” Morgan said.
East Bengal, which scored seven and conceded five while making to the semi-finals, will have its task cut out against Churchill’s fluency. The East Bengal coach hoped his team will overcome the deficiencies and come out with a better showing against Churchill Brothers.
Churchill Brothers’ technical director Subhas Bhowmick was cautious in his assertion. “East Bengal is a strong side and it needs a disciplined performance to beat them,” Bhowmick said. “I hope my boys will come up to the challenge,” he added.
Bhowmick definitely underplayed the stupendous form his team – having the likes of Gabonese Henry Antchouet, Brazilian Roberto Mendes Silva and young Akram Moghrabi of Lebanon – showed in the group league to master an enviable statistic of 9-1 goal average in its favour.
KICK-OFF AT 6.30 P.M.\
East Bengal vs Churchill Brothers – Head to Head in Federation Cup
September 1998 (Siliguri Semi Final)
East Bengal 1 (Rennedy Singh)
beat
Churchill Brothers 0
October,2005 (Margao Quarter Final)
Churchill Brothers 0(10)
Beat (in tie-breaker)
East Bengal – 0(9) –
September 2011, (Cuttack -Semi Final)
East Bengal 1(Tolgay Ozbey)
beat
Churchill Brothers 0
Total Matches – 3
East Bengal Won – 2
Churchill Brothers Won – 1
East Bengal Goals – 2
Churchill Brothers Goals – Nil
NB – Whenever the two teams have met in Fed Cup Semi Final East Bengal has won.
Churchill Brothers are yet to score a goal vs East Bengal in Fed Cup.
