Kolkata: East Bengal maintained their winning momentum, defeating Churchill Brothers 3-2 in a thriller that saw both the sides come back into the match after falling a goal behind.
The hero of the match was however Willis Plaza. Goalless after three games into the league, cries of asking him to leave the club had been raised, with many pressurising coach Khalid Jamil to drop him, but the Trinidad and Tobago striker silenced all, scoring a brace against a revitalised Churchill that seemed desperate to atleast take a point from the Vidyasagar Krirangan on Friday, if not all three.
While the Red and Gold looked confident after a 5-1 battering of Lajong, it was Churchill who started the match better, eventually taking the lead as early as the 16th minute when Israil Gurung’s cross from the left found an unmarked Peter Omoduemuke in the opposition box and the Nigerian made no mistake calmly slotting the ball past a hapless Mirshad. It was Churchill’s first goal in the League after a thirsty wait of three matches.
Their joy was nonetheless shot-lived as East Bengal restored parity two minutes later through Laldanmawia Ralte, who was assited by Plaza. It was however just the beginning of what would become a comeback night for the Willy striker.
Yusa Katsumi, signed after Bagan released him, already looked to have established himself into the squad, bringing creativity into the Red and Gold midfield. It was he, who assisted Plaza for his first goal in the league.
Always threatening on the right flank, the Korean send in a curled cross into the Churchill box, that was headed in by the East Bengal no. 9, who timed his run to perfection. A goal in the dying minutes of the first half would just be what the doctor ordered, for that goal simply changed the complexion of a nervous striker that seemed to have forgotten his striking boots at home in the past matches.
A goal lead into the second-half, East Bengal looked a completely different side, passing the ball with ease while also finding occasional space in the Churchill half. It was the ‘Red Machines’ however who found the net against the run of play in the 59th minute. Monday Osagie floated a ball into the box, which was headed in by Nicholas Fernandes, beating Mirshad at the far post.
The home side could have scored as many as four goals in the latter part of the match but Churchill, desperate to open their points account held on, defending deep. James Kithan nearly single-handedly carried the away side to a heroic draw, until the combination of Plaza and Katsumi once again drew another inspirational win for the Red and Golds.
As many as seven minutes were given as extra-time after the completion of 90 minutes and Plaza made sure East Bengal walked home with three full points against the ‘Red Machines’.