16.5.2010, Calcutta: Coming out of the Salt
Lake Stadium tunnel, Phillippe de Ridder had no clue, which way his
team’s bench would be. He went left and had to be pulled back by one of
the East Bengal officials. “This way,” the official told him and the
Belgian, regaining himself, walked briskly to take his seat.
As things unfolded in the next 90 minutes,
his boys were equally clueless. Having no idea whatsoever how to go
about things. And, expectedly, a much-more disciplined and motivated
Mohun Bagan came up trumps, winning the I-League derby 2-1.
After Jose Ramirez Barreto headed home the
first goal in the 14th minute, substitute Snehasish Chakraborty slotted
home four minutes from close. And by the time, Ghanaian Yusif Yakubu
reduced the margin, four minutes into the injury time, Mohun Bagan were
already into the celebration mood.
The win will definitely give Bagan fans
something to smile about but for De Ridder it might prove catastrophic.
After this spineless display, where Alvito D’Cunha was played on the
right and Sanju Pradhan warmed the bench for the first 45 minutes, it
would be highly surprising if the officials go for a contract renewal.
If everything went wrong for De Ridder’s
men, things panned out exactly the way Bagan wanted. Barreto played a
little deeper, Rakesh Masih was used as the screen in front of the back
four. That was enough to shut out Mehtab Hossain in the centre of the
park and East Bengal were all at sea.
Finding acres of space in front of them,
the likes of Ryuji Sueoka, Ishfaq Ahmed, N Mohanraj and Surkumar Singh
revelled. Sueoka, in particular, hasd a great game and played a big role
in Bagan’s two goals. Rightfully so, he was adjudged the Man of the
Match.
The Japanese, in fact, could have got his
name in the scoresheet just a minute before Barreto got the first but he
shot into the side-netting with only rival goalkeeper Gupreet Singh
Sandhu, at his mercy.
With the midfield nowhere in sight, the
defence crumbled every time Bagan went on the offensive. Meharajuddin
Wadoo, Harmonjyot Singh Khabra and Uga Okpara gave a pathetic account of
themselves. Certainly, they would like to forget this match as quickly
as possible.
Take the first goal for instance.
Mehrajuddin was so slow in retreating that Barreto headed in Sueoka’s
delivery almost unmarked. By the time, Khabra tried to close him down,
the damage was done.
During the second goal, Sueoka delivered a
cross from the right with Mehrajuddin and Okpara too busy marking
Barreto. In the process, they left Snehasish unmarked. And the wide man
did not make any mistake in slotting it home.
Still, East Bengal had their chances when B
Beokhokhei’s attempt from close was first parried by Sangram Mukherjee
and then volleyed out of the danger zone by Deepak Mondal. And then,
Yusif Yakubu, playing through pain, got past Sheikh Azim and Deepak
before losing control in front of the goal.
For the record, this was Bagan coach
Biswajit Bhattacharya’s first win in a Derby match. He may not be there
at the helm in the next season but he will always remember this Sunday.
Mohun Bagan’s favourite son Jose Ramirez Barreto was visibly happy on Sunday. After all, he got his name in the scoresheet against arch-rivals East Bengal. “Yeah, I am happy to contribute to the team’s cause. I am expected to score in big matches. Sometimes I live up to the fans expectations, sometimes I don’t. But all the while I keep on trying.”
Barreto said he was not bothered by the criticism he faced this season. “Those barbs actually spurred me on. I am a professional footballer and know how to handle these things. I never let that creep into my mind. I kept my focus and today I think I managed to make a point,” he said.
The Brazilian said that the 2-1 win would give the green and maroon brigade the impetus to retain the Calcutta Football League title. Barreto, however, rued that Bagan once again failed to win the I-League.
East Bengal coach Phillippe de Ridder said Bagan were the deserving winners. “They were much more compact and disciplined on the day. We made mistakes and paid for that,” he said.
TEAMS
Mohun Bagan: Sangram Mukherjee,
Surkumar Singh, Deepak Mondal, Shiekh Azim, N Mohanraj, Ryuoji Sueoka,
Rakesh Masih, Marcos, Ishfaq Ahmed (Snehasish Chakraborty 67), Jose
Ramirez Barreto and Edeh Chidi.
East Bengal: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu;
Harmonjyot Singh Khabra, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Uga Okpara, Alvito D’Cunha
(Sanju Pradhan 46), Mehtab Hossain, B Beikhokei, Syed Rahim Nabi
(Bhaichung Bhutia 60), Abel Hammond and Yusif Yakubu.
Referee: S Suresh
MoM: Ryuoji Sueoka.
Here are the match videos :
Source : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100517/jsp/sports/story_12456979.jsp
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