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Emami East Bengal qualify for knockouts with a solitary goal win over Punjab FC
Emami East Bengal (EEB)– 1 (Siverio 22′)
Punjab FC (PFC) – 0 ()
Kolkata, August 16, 2023:
Emami East Bengal (EEB) qualified for the knockout stages of the 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup, defeating Punjab FC (PFC) 1-0 in the final Group A game here at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK). They thus become the second team after Chennaiyin FC to make the quarter-final stage of Asia’s oldest football tournament, courtesy topping the group with seven points from three games. Their Spanish striker Javier Siverio got the all-important goal in the 22nd minute of the first half. PFC will exit the tournament in the group stages.
It was a professional performance by the home side as despite severe pressure applied by Punjab for the equalizer and having lesser possession, they did not balk under pressure and in-fact closed the stronger of the teams.
While PFC’s Greek coach Staikos Vergetis made as many as seven changes to the 11 that started against the Bangladesh Army in the previous game and EEB’s Spanish gaffer Carles Cuadrat made only one in bringing in Nishu Kumar for Mandar Rao Desai, their attacking style was similar with both leaving one striker upfront and two wingers in support.
EEB takes the lead
Punjab began the stronger as Spanish winger Juan Mera, playing against his former club, took the first punt at goal inside five minutes, but his shot from range brought about a save from keeper Prabhsukan Gill, who once again had a great day under the bar with two consecutive clean sheets now.
After the initial sparring, at the 20-minute mark, EEB’s Australian defender Jordan Elsey came close with a header off a set-piece. It was well worked out by Borja Herrera and Nandhakumar, but the effort was deflected out by the PFC defense.
The goal came off the resulting corner as Naorem Mahesh Singh worked it short with Borja, who then floated it in beautifully for Javier Siverio to leap the highest and direct his header away from keeper Kiran Limbu’s reach and into the net.
The Spaniard nearly doubled the lead and his tally in the 40th minute when off an accurate Mahesh cross from the left, he connected with another header and beat Kiran again, but the ball hit the woodwork and came back.
Just before the break, Brandon did get a golden opportunity to equalize, but his effort was too weak to bother Prabhsukan. So did Juan Mera at the stroke of half-time with a direct free-kick in the danger zone just outside the box, but his effort too was way over.
Punjab fights to no avail
Upon resumption, Punjab continued to exert pressure and press hard. Mahesh was booked for persistent fouling just before the hour mark.
At the hour mark Vergetis made a double change taking off his wingers Juan Mera and Krishnananda Singh and bringing in Prashanth and Samuel Lyngdoh in their place.
In the 67th, Cuadrat made a defensive change taking off the hard-working Borja with his latest Spanish signing Jose Pardo. It was clear that EEB was looking to add solidity to their defensive play. Vergetis responded with Amarjeet Kiyam in place of the tiring Brandon.
In the 72nd, Cuadrat made a double change of his own, bringing on last season’s shining light Cleiton Silva and Edwin Vanspaul in place of goal-scorer Siverio and the hardworking Sauvik Chakraborti.
The Brazilian striker had an immediate impact and had as many as three chances to score till the final whistle was blown. The first was as soon as arrived, when he tried to score off a free-kick, but just missed. He had an even better opportunity about 10 minutes before regulation time when after an error by Nikhil Prabhu, he found himself with only the keeper to beat. He overran the ball however and mistimed his connection, resulting in an easy collection for Limbu. He got a third chance in the 87th when Nandha put him through but his attempt was deflected away from goal by the PFC defense.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant to wait for other results
As it stands after the completion of Group A, Mohun Bagan Super Giant finish second with six points and will now have to wait for the results of the other groups to know their fate in the tournament. Punjab along with Bangladesh Army Football Team exit at the group stage.
Tomorrow’s matches
Jamshedpur FC and Indian Navy Football Team face-off in match 25 of the 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup at Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan ground in the day’s first game. The Group B match begins at 3.00 pm Indian Standard Time (IST)
Match 26 will see Indian Army Football Team take on local side Bodoland FC in a Group F match-up at Kokrajhar’s SAI stadium, with an evening kick-off scheduled at 6.00 pm IST.
Ticket Information in detail
India’s leading entertainment destination BookMyShow has been roped in as an exclusive ticketing partner for the 132nd IndianOil Durand Cup.
Fans can book their tickets for all knockout matches of the tournament exclusively on www.bookmyshow.com.
