Skipper Jhantu Prasad nets brace as East Bengal trounce ATK in IFA Shield

The Red amd Gold made it two wins out of two in the competition and have edged closer to the final four.

East Bengal continued their fine form in the IFA Shield with a compelling 3-0 win over ATK in a Group A match played at the East Bengal Ground earlier on Sunday. A brace from captain Jhantu Prasad and a goal from Lalcchanhima was enough for the Red and Gold to take a step forward in qualifying for the semi-finals.

East Bengal made a few changes to their lineup, with clinical attackers Silvana and Lalhruaitluanga coming into the team. ATK had some talented players themselves, but needed to win in order to stay alive in the group. The game started off with the Red and Gold on the front foot, as came close to unlocking the stubborn defense of ATK. However, it was the ISL side who had the first big chance of the game, when striker Asit Hembram tricked his defender and took a shot straight at keeper Ayan Roy.

But, East Bengal had a decent response to that a few minutes later and after ATK struggled to clear a corner, a chance fell to captain Prasad whose volley was just wide of the target. ATK got another big chance in the 17th minute, when they robbed East Bengal of possession and winger Stephenson Pale was set free. He set it up for Amarnath Basket, who saw his shot expertly saved off the line by Gurmukh Singh.

East Bengal scuffed an easy chance a few minutes later when they broke through the left and a perfect cross was played for Silvana to shockingly put it over from yards out. The difficult conditions weren’t making it any easier for the players, but both the teams threatened through the wings. ATK keeper Koushik Majhi made a terrible mistake in judging a free-kick in the 32nd minute, but was lucky to see the opposition player being unable to capitalize on it.

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The tempo of the game picked up in the second half and East Bengal created a few decent chances early on, with some headers from attackers going just over the post. Prasad gave the hosts the lead in the 51st minute after making a darting run into the box and impressively heading a cross into the net. He added another to his tally when Lalcchanhima stole the ball in midfield and started a devastating counter-attack, which ended with Silvana laying it for his captain to calmly finish off the terrific move.

The Red and Gold were mounting on the pressure and in the 59th minute, winger Dip Saha tricked his man and took a powerful shot straight at Majhi. The hosts created another impressive move in the 66th minute through the right flank s substitute Saurav Mondal tricked his way into the box, but his weak shot was easily parried away by Majhi. ATK were trying the best to get back into the game, but were too clumsy in midfield and couldn’t unlock East Bengal's rigid defense.

In the 74th minute, they finally created a big chance with a dangerous move through the left and a mistake from Roy allowed substitute Shumoy Shome to hit a fantastic back-volley which was equally expertly cleared off the line by an East Bengal defender, to preserve his side’s lead. Bengal had another chance to further extend their lead a few minutes later, when Lalcchanhima strode forward with the ball before laying it off for Suranjit Singh, who could only hit the side-netting with his attempt.

East Bengal put the game to bed with a third goal in the 85th minute, when Lalcchanhima was sent through and tricked the ATK defence, before expertly finishing to get his fourth goal of the tournament. ATK looked for a consolation in the dying moments and went closest through Baskey, whose effort went sailing over.

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East Bengal are now sitting comfortably at the top of the group with six points, while ATK will need good fortune to help them qualify for the knockout rounds.