East Bengal overcomes weather to defeat George 2-0

Kolkata, Aug 2 (UNI) In contrast to the other two big clubs in maidan, a homespun East Bengal defeated Smart George Telegraph 2-0 in Kolkata Premier League here today.

To be fair to the two teams, conditions were not conducive to good football.

Rain came and went right throughout the match, leaving the turf slippery. George Telegraph custodian Swarup Das can hardly be blamed for the first goal he conceded.

Man-of-the-Match Alvito D'Cunha's left-footer from 20 yards out showed his experience of playing in Kolkata during the rainy season.

It paid off. He successfully dropped it ahead of the goalkeeper and the treacherous mud spun the ball away from Das (1-0).

Before that goal in the 69th minute, East Bengal did not look much better than an unorganised George Telegraph. Pereira's wards created some chances between the 57th and 61st minutes but were frustrated by the George goalkeeper.

His job done, D'Cunha was taken off. His replacement Ashim Biswas, back in Kolkata after a stint with Salgaocar, had a happy start to the season. He trapped a corner from the left flank, and slotted it in, unchallenged, in the 76th minute.

The relief on the face of Mr Pereira after the first goal, and his decision to replace the player who was making the difference, indicates that a win was all that he wanted.

Telegraph's Goutam Thakur found a loose ball, and dodged past even the East Bengal custodian, but had nobody at the centre to provide the finishing touch. His centre was headed out off the goalline by Vincent Pires.

UNI BA SP DH KN2020