East Bengal edge Chennai City in Coimbatore to make it hat-trick of wins

 

Kingfisher East Bengal were able to continue their winning run in the Hero I-League 2017-18 thanks to two first-half strikes from Katsumi Yusa (26′) Charles D’Souza (31′). Although Romario Jesuraj halved the difference in the 43rd minute, it couldn’t deter the Red & Golds’ from churning all three points from Coimbatore.

 

The game began on an attacking note with the hosts pressing hard to score, but failed to convert any. However, the first notable chance for the visitors came in the 16th minute, with a free kick just outside the box, but Katsumi Yusa couldn’t make the most of it.

 

This was followed by a string of failed attacks and counterattacks on both the sides. However, its were the Red & Gold who drew the first blood through a brilliant cross by Al Amna to the gutsy Katsumi Yusa, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net giving the visitors an early lead in the 26th minute.

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Kingfisher East Bengal soon doubled their lead when a defensive lapse at the Chennai City FC box led to a second goal from Charles Dsouza in the 31st minute. Chennai City FC, however, came back with a string of attacks on the visitors’  side, finally finding the nets through Alexander Romario Jesuraj in the 43rd Minute keeping their hopes alive in the game.

 

The second half saw an open game, with the visitors pressing hard to consolidate their lead while the hosts aiming to equalize. Three failed efforts in the second half from East Bengal’s Willis Plaza and Laldanmawia Ralte denied the visitors from putting up an emphatic win against Chennai City FC.

 

While the hosts came really close to equalize through Joachim Jr. on two occasions, however, they couldn’t convert any to their favour. Both the teams played attacking football, with the Kolkata-based outfit having the better of the chances, but some brilliant saves from Chennai goalkeeper Uros Poljanec who was also adjudged the Hero of the Match denied the visitors an opportunity to cushion their lead.

 

With this win, Kingfisher East Bengal leapfrogged to the second spot of the Hero I-League table with 10 points from 5 matches whereas Chennai City FC dropped to the eighth spot with 4 points playing one match more.