Thaindian News

Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS) Notwithstanding the death of his mother back home, Ghanaian Yusif Yakubu sparkled with a brace as former champions East Bengal edged past Goa’s Churchill Brothers 3-2 in an exciting I-League match here Friday.
Churchill twice took the lead but the city giants rallied back on both occasions and finally let go the killer punch in the second session to finish with three points from the Salt Lake stadium match. The teams were locked 2-2 at the breather.

Bhaichung Bhutia, who for the first time in this edition of the high-profile league, stayed on the turf for seconds less than 90 minutes, struck the winner. On the other hand, the two Churchill goals came from a Syed Rahim Nabi sameside and a Reisangmei Vashum effort.

The match saw the ball rocketing from one end to the other, and the sheer speed and level of close contest gave the spectators their money’s worth. However, East Bengal consistently dominated ball possession. The visitors, who missed their main striker Okoli Odafa due to double booking, went into the lead in the ninth minute when Nabi and Ogba Kalu Nnanna jumped to head a Vashum throw but the ball went in after changing direction off the East Bengal player.

East Bengal restored parity within two minutes as Yakubu, who got the news of his mother’s death Friday morning, netting with a sharp left footer by following up a Bhutia through pass.

But the relief in the East Bengal camp was short-lived, and their defender Uga Okpara was to be blamed. He made a faulty clearance in the 13th minute which was intercepted by Churchill striker Felix Chimaokwu who set up Vashum and the latter found the net.

Down 1-2, East Bengal increased the tempo of the attack, and made it even in the 38th minute as an Alvito D’Cunha cross from the left saw Yakubu spotjump, bend his body like an arrow and head the ball which went into the net off goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya’s hands. Alvito served his side well by keeping the supply line going with incisive passes and initiating deadball moves.

Crossing over, East Bengal again scored in the 53rd minute. Alvito’s corner from the left was headed by Hammond and Bhutia, back after the hamstring injury, guided the ball into the net with a diving header. After 11 matches, Churchill ar now fifth with 18 points, while East Bengal are two rungs down the ladder on 16 points.