Defending champion Bengal scored five in the second half to outplay Maharashtra 5-1 in its second Group-A league outing in the National football championship, for the Santosh Trophy, at the Sailen Manna Sports Complex Howrah on Wednesday. In another match of the same group, Chandigarh held Manipur 1-1.
Having downed former champion Manipur in its opening match, Bengal looked to continue its good form against Maharashtra. Despite a good start by the home team, it was Maharashtra that took the lead in the eighth minute when Leander Dharmai capitalised on a defensive error and found the net following Kiran Pandhare’s free-kick.
Maharashtra preserved the lead in the first half but Bengal came back strongly after the break and equalised 10 minutes into the second half.
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Looking to effectuate its attacks, Bengal started utilising the flanks more and found success when winger Sumit Das floated in a cross for Manotosh Chakladar to slot past the rival ’keeper Manav Baraskar. Encouraged by the equaliser, Bengal mounted pressure and found the lead in the 62nd minute when Jiten Murmu made the most of a Tirthankar Sarkar free-kick.
Maharashtra tried to regroup but its efforts were nixed by Bengal, which appeared more composed in attack. Bengal made it 3-1 when under-21 striker Bidyashagar Singh found the target in the 79th minute.
Bengal did not let up the pressure and added two more in the last 10 minutes of the action. Bidyashagar found his second in the 82nd minute before substitute Rajon Barman rounded off the scoring in the 89th.
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Profiting from the mess
In the other match, Manipur drew first blood in the 25th minute when Nagamba Naocha made the most of confusion in the Chandigarh defence and found the net with a nice solo effort.
Despite playing well in the opening session, Chandigarh had to wait till the 65th minute when it found the equaliser through Vivek Rana, who struck after availing a low cross from the right flank.
Bengal remains on top of the group with six points, while Manipur and Chandigarh have a point each.
The results: Group-A: Bengal 5 (Manotosh Chakladar 55, Jiten Murmu 62, Bidyashagar Singh 79, 82, Rajon Barman 89) bt Maharashtra 1 (Leander Dharmai 8); Manipur 1 (Ngangbam Naocha 25) drew with Chandigarh 1 (Vivek Rana 65) .