Eduardo stars in JCT's 3-0 win over East Bengal

Ludhiana, Jan 14 (UNI) Punjab's leading soccer outfit, JCT Phagwara blanked former champions East Bengal 3-0 in the eleventh round match of the ONGC I League played at the Guru Nanak stadium here today.

JCT's Brazilian striker Eduardo Escorber was the star of JCT's ictory, with one goal to his credit and having a hand in the other two goals which were scored by Baljit Singh Sahni and Baldeep Singh.

With this win, JCT have moved to 22 points from 11 matches, maintaining their second position behind Dempo Sports Club in the I-League standings. East Bengal, who are having a dismal run in the I-League this season remain on eight points.

Putting behind their only loss of the tournament to Mahindra United in their last match, the millmen were in top form as they took just five minutes to take the lead. Picking up the ball outside the East Bengal penalty area, Eduardo sent a well calculated pass to Baljit Singh Sahni, whose powerful volley beat the East Bengal custodian to put the home side ahead.

Three mintes later, it was again the lanky Brazilian who was at the centre of the action in the middle of the field. Moving into the rival area after dogging past three defenders, he sent a pass to Baldeep Singh inside the penalty box. Baldeep, after drawing the goalkeeper out, tapped the ball gently into the net to put the millmen 2-0 ahead.

Eduardo's moment came in the 38th minute of play, when he was brought down in the penalty area by a defender.The Brazilian made no mistake with the penalty kick (3-0).

The second half was a lacklustre affair with both teams confining themselves to the middle. Though East Bengal did make a few attempts at the rival goal, the JCT defenders did not provide much space to the Kolkata giants to take a shot at the goal.

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