The Hindu : Sport / Football : Churchill holds East Bengal

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Monday, Jan 22, 2007
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Churchill holds East Bengal

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Promoted Churchill Brothers fielding mostly young and inexperienced players proved to former champion Kingfisher East Bengal how commitment and enthusiasm can propel a team to greater deeds in the fourth round of the ONGC 11th National Football League at the Barasat Stadium near here on Sunday.

The match dominated by the visiting team ended 2-2 giving Churchill its third draw in four games to reach six points. East Bengal tasted its first draw after two wins and a loss to have seven points.

Early strike

The third minute strike by Khemtang Paite off a right wing centre by Th. Naoba Singh took the East Bengal defence by surprise. East Bengal equalised four minutes before half-time. A right wing move by Syed Rahim Nabi saw Ashim Biswas being brought down inside the penalty area by goalkeeper Vinay Singh. The resultant spot-kick was converted by Boniface Ngairah Ambani.

East Bengal went ahead in the 66th minute. Ambani shot in a right-footer after Arata's header off a long clearance reached the Kenyan who dribbled past two defenders before slotting in.

Restoring parity

When it looked like Churchill would taste its first defeat, East Bengal goalkeeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar allowed the ball to slip out of his grip off a long throw-in by Naoba Singh. Mashangva Genius Zenith headed the ball to unmarked D. Raju who placed home to spoil East Bengal's party.

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