Kolkata: Emami East Bengal defeated table group toppers Mumbai City FC 4-3 to register their maiden win in the 131st Durand Cup. Sumit Passi and Cleiton Silva scored a brace each, while Lallianzuala Chhangte braced for Mumbai City FC in the match.
Emami East Bengal finish with five points from four games, whereas Mumbai City FC have seven points have topped the group, the Islanders have qualified already. It was the first time Emami East Bengal had scored and they made it up by scoring all of four on the day.
The game started in a fantastic way, Mumbai City FC defender Gursimrat pick up a booking in the early 7th minute of the game. In the 9th minute, Greg Stewart played Mandar Rao Desai down the left flank and the cross aimed at Pereyra Diaz, but it almost sneak one past keeper Kamaljit Singh in the Emami East Bengal goal.
Good things tend to come in pairs
Cleiton Silva made his first attempt in the 17th minute which Nawaz saved but seconds later Semboi Haokip snatched the ball in the middle of the Mumbai City FC half and played Jerry down the left just outside the box. The Mizo left wing-back drove in and delivered a cross which found Sumit Passi unmarked on the far post. His header back across the keeper found the target for Emami East Bengal’s first of the tournament. Minutes later Emami East Bengal were 2-0 up. Ahmed Jahouh fouled Cleiton Silva in a dangerous position just outside the box. The former Bengaluru player executed perfectly from the free-kick with a right footed curler.
It was a crazy 20 minutes after that which saw two goalkeeping blunders and four more goals being scored, one by the Red & Golds and three by the Islanders.
Greg Stewart collected the ball in midfield and played Bipin down the right flank who, with his trademark run inside, crossed for Pereyra Diaz. The Argentine chested it on to Stewart who had followed the play and his crisp volley bulged the back of the net.
Soon it was 3-1 as Cleiton began a move and played a give and go with countryman Alex Lima to find Sumit Passi on the right flank. The India international’s attempt at a probable cross was directed at goal and Nawaz fumbled to see the ball go in.
MCFC then struck twice through Lallianzuala Chhangte, who attempted long ranger which Kamaljit misjudged, for the ball to find its target.
Seven minutes later, Greg Stewart attempted a shot from distance as well. This time Kamaljit brought off a good save, but only managed to parry it towards an onrushing Bipin Singh, who cut back for Chhangte to blast it in on the turn with his left.
It was a crazy end to the first half with both teams locked 3-3 but MCFC starting to get the upper hand.
In comparison the second-half was an anti-climax with both teams getting into a battle of attrition. It was equal in the half with none willing to give an inch of space away.
The deadlock remained till the 81st minute. Until when Emami East Bengal finally broke through. It was off a counter attack started by Cleiton himself and he played Amarjit Kiyam down the left flank. The former under-17 India captain made ground with space and put in a cross which Nawaz could only get a hand on to. Both Eliandro and Cleiton were at hand, but the latter got to it first and hit the fourth and his second of the game, into the back of the net.
Emami East Bengal FC – 4 (Sumit Passi 17’ 34’ Cleiton Silva 22’ 81)
Mumbai City FC – 3 (Greg Stewart 27’ Chhangte 36’ 43’)
