New Delhi: In what was one of the most spectacular and highly entertaining games in Indian football recently, Mohun Bagan edged East Bengal 5-3 on penalties after the game was tied 1-1 at the end of 120 minutes.
The match went to penalties and it was Sunil Chhetri’s miss from the spot which proved costly for the defending champions.
For Mohun Bagan (in order), Jose Barreto, Marcos Pereira, Lal Kamal Bhowmick, Lawampuia and James Singh converted their penalties while for East Bengal (in order), Praveen Kumar, Mehtab Hussain, Sunil Chhetri and Jayanta Sen lined up for the spot kick.
This was after the Sanju Pradhan had given East Bengal the lead in the 61st minute but the equaliser came for Jose Barreto seven minutes later.
Mohun Bagan shall square off against Dempo SC on the 21st of this month at the same venue.
East Bengal made one change in their starting line-up as they brought in Suley Musah, who recovered from his injury, for Poibiang. Mohun Bagan started with James Singh on the right flank with Ishfaq on the other.
The highly anticipated clash kicked-off and it was East Bengal who saw more of the ball in the first few minutes. Yakubu tried to chip inside the box but the ball accidentally hit the hand of Anandavasan in the fifth minute.
Mehtab Hussain’s searching ball for Sunil on the left saw the striker dribble past a limping Anandavasan as he aimed at the far post but the shot went over.
Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa was forced to substitute Anandavasan as Lal Kamal Bhowmick made his way in the 10th minute.
The Green and Maroons would have taken a shock lead through a Marcos Pereira free-kick from the right which hit the far post with East Bengal custodian Subrata Paul stranded.
Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan continued to live dangerously as a long ball for Sunil saw the striker almost through but Sangram Mukherjee did well to come out and ward off the danger.
Another Marcos Pereira floater in the box saw Subrata Paul spill and Ishfaq jumped at the remains but his attempt was cleared by Mehrajuddin Wadoo.
A 22nd minute James Singh flag-kick was headed by Ishfaq Ahmed and it came off the post; second time unlucky for the Bencherifa’s men.
At the other end, a Sanju Pradhan flag-kick was fiercely headed by Sunil Chhetri only to see his attempt being saved by Sangram Mukherjee. Lal Kamal Bhowmick was the guilty man for leaving his opposite number free.
A good interplay between Yusif Yakubu and Sunil Chhetri saw the former hit straight to Sangram from the outside of his foot. A fine cross from Sanju Pradhan inside the box saw the ball go out of play as neither Nabi nor Bagan defenders could get a touch.
Syed Nabi’s ball to Sunil from the left was taken on volley but the ball went straight to the Bagan custodian Sangram Mukherjee.
Yusif Yakubu’s fine play on the right saw Jayanta Sen’s deflected shot almost go in but once again Sangram Mukherjee denied the Red and Gold’s.
Just at the stroke of half time, Marcos’ short free-kick to Ishfaq Ahmed saw the Kashmiri’s left footer miss the target by inches.
In the second session, East Bengal lost their central defender Suley Musah due to injury just after ten minutes and in came Alvito D’Cunha who played on the left flank. Syed Nabi went on the right back slot while Nirmal Chhetri was shifted to the central defence.
Just four minutes after his entry, Alvito almost opened the scoring for East Bengal with a screamer which was put out by Sangram for a corner.
Lal Kamal Bhowmick gave away a needless free-kick on the left flank. Alvito’s free-kick was headed out by Rakesh Masih which went straight to Sanju Pradhan whose first time volley didn’t allow any reaction from Sangram Mukherjee.It was a gem of a goal.
It was at this point that East Bengal slackened a bit and Jayanta Sen’s foul gave Mohun Bagan a free-kick. Marcos Pereira’s delivery at the far post saw Barreto head it in and send the Mohun Bagan fans into frenzy just seven minutes after going down.
In the 70th minute, Ishfaq Ahmed was fouled inside the area by Mehrajuddin Wadoo, in what was a clear spot kick for everyone except the referee.
Two minutes later, the ball ricocheted of Sanju Pradhan’s feet for Bhaichung and his left footer enforced a save from Subrata Paul. Ishfaq Ahmed hit the upright from the rebound and Mohun Bagan couldn’t believe their luck.
Three minutes from final time, James Singh’s cross from goalline was collected by Subrata Paul under pressure from Bhaichung who had a raised arm. East Bengal players surrounded the referee to take action against Bhaichung and no card was shown except for one to Subrata Paul!
In the injury time of the second session, Marcos Pereira’s attempt went just wide.
The game headed into the extra time and in the very first minute Barreto headed James Singh’s cross from the right over the bar.
Yusif Yakubu found Sunil Chhetri whose first time shot came off the post. The rebound was gently hit towards the goal in frustration without any power when Sangram Mukherjee wasn’t in the best position to save. A little maturity at this stage would have helped East Bengal greatly.
James Singh’s cross saw Barreto and Subrata Paul clash and the Brazilian was the first Bagan player of the evening to be booked.
Mohun Bagan skipper Bhaichung Bhutia was stretchered off as he looked to hurt his knee. Lalwampuia came on as a substitute to spur things on.
In the added time at the end of the first session of extra time, Sunil’s left footer from inside the box was saved by Sangram Mukherjee.
In the second session of the extra time, Lal Kamal Bhowmick’s effort sailed over the bar after Lalwampuia laid the ball for the former.
At the other end, Sanju Pradhan missed a volley after receiving a cross from the left.
Lalwampuia’s cross from the left saw substitute Malswamtulunga, who came in for Ishfaq Ahmed minutes earlier, headed it back for Barreto whose shot was blocked by Saumik Dey in what looked like a sure shot winner.
Yusif Yakubu’s sloater could have gone into the net as Sangram Mukherjee was off his line but luckily the ball went over. The final minute of extra time, James Singh’s cross from the left was headed by an unmarked Lalwampuia over the bar.
Then came the penalties where Sunil Chhetri missed and the score read 3-2. Lalwampuia scored the next one making it essential for East Bengal to score the next. Jayanta Sen, to the relief of East Bengal did convert.
Subrata Paul had to stop the next penalty which was ably put in by James Singh which sent Mohun Bagan into the finals to face Dempo SC.
Goalscorer East Bengal: Sanju Pradhan (61st min)
Goalscorer Bagan: Jose Barreto (68th min)
Penalties:
Jose Barreto (MB)
Praveen Kumar (EB)
Marcos Pereira (MB)
Mehtab Hussain (EB)
Lal Kamal Bhowmick (MB)
Sunil Chhetri (EB) – missed
Lalwampuia (MB)
Jayanta Sen (EB)
James Singh (MB)
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