East Bengal win 4-3 in NFL goalrush

Kolkata, Mar 18 (UNI) East Bengal overcame some stiff challenge from Sporting Clube de Goa to win the high-adrenalin opening tie of the Phase II of 10th NFL 4-3 at the Salt Lake stadium here today.

East Bengal shot into the lead in the 38th minute off a little gem. Ndem laid the ball in Gauranga Dutta's path who worked his way past two defenders and sent a low cross that Baichung Bhutia headed home slithering between his markers(1-0).

Sporting Clube de Goa restored parity through a peach of a shot from Harinder Singh Saini who 35 yards left-footer bulged the top left of the net with Rajat Ghosh Dastidar hopelessly out of position (1-1).

Sporting shot into lead in the 54th minute when Bibiano Fernandez's clinical cross found Edeh Chiddi in the open whose angled volley found the mark (2-1).

But East Bengal still had the torch burning bright. 60 minutes on Anupam Sarkar sends a long cross that Rahim Nabi headed for Baichung. Baichung shrugged off his markers and unleashed a volley, that makes him a silken assassin, to restore parity for the home team (2-2).

Five minutes later Shasty Duley sends a measured cross from the corner kick and Rahim Nabi sends a sublime drop header that left the goan team hig-dry. 3-2 for East Bengal.

To add to the spice, East Bengal earned a penalty in 72nd minute after Nicholas Burges brought down Baichung in the penalty box. Mike Okoro, who replaced Amandep Singh, stepped up and let go a limp right footer that Felix saved with consumate ease.

Sporting restored parity in the 85th when Edeh backpassed and Bibianio Fernandez slotted home(3-3).

The very next minute off the counter attack Okoro set-up Baichung inside the penalty box. With the home team captain rushing in Vincent Pires tried to clear but slipped and Baichung flicked the ball home. East Bengal up 4-3.

Baichung also emerged as the highest scorer of NFL now with six goals to his name.

The match began on a spirited note with both teams testing each other and end to end runs across the field.

East Bengal opened up their firts opportunity in the 12th minute when Ndem stinger missed its mark by a hair's breath and Sporting countered through Dudu who brought the best out of Rajat.

The goal came in the 38th minute for the home team, Chiddi of a quick counter attack almost restored parity as his grounder hit the upright before going out of play.

At half time both the teams were tied on 1-1.

In the second half stung by the reverses from Clube de Goa, East Bengal changed gears and went into overdrive and thereafter the visitors were all over the places.

To East Bengal's credit they muffed up two more sitters through Gauranga Datta and Okoro who volley over from handshaking distance.

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