Abinash Ruidas sneaked in a second-half goal to hand East Bengal a creditable 1-0 win against defending champions Bengaluru FC in the Hero I-League here on Wednesday.
The Federation Cup champions dominated the proceedings but paid the price for their profligacy as Ruidas’ 53rd-minute goal handed Bengaluru FC their second successive loss.
Bengaluru FC, with just one point from three matches, slipped to 10th place in the 11-team table, while East Bengal (four points) climbed to fifth place.
BFC coach Ashley Westwood made a statement of intent with the line-up he chose. Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, substitutes in the loss to Pune FC last Saturday, were both handed starts in a team that featured Sean Rooney too. With the leading players back in the starting line-up, the fluidity was there to see.
It took just five minutes for the Blues to unsettle the East Bengal defence. Put through
by a defence-splitting Joshua Walker ball, Robin Singh had no one but goalkeeper Subhashish Roychowdhury to beat. But a delay to shoot by a fraction cost the striker dear.
Only minutes later, Walker was at the helm of things himself. Skipping past a player and caressing the ball into space, the midfielder caught Roychowdhury off his line and almost scored a contender for goal of the season with the a superb chip, only to see it ricochet off the crossbar.
The rebound fell kindly for Robin but the striker’s hook was off target. The Blues made sure Roychowdhury was the busiest man in the half when Eugeneson Lyngdoh’s rasping strike from 25 yards out drew a save from the keeper.
Despite numerous chances to take the lead, the Blues went into the break with the scores unchanged. Needing to make use of the major share of possession, Armando Colaco’s men started the second half with renewed vigour.
Swift on the counter and clinical down the flanks, East Bengal took the lead in the 53rd minute through Abinash Ruidas. The nippy winger found himself at the right place at the right time to slide in and finish under pressure following Ranti Martins' trap of an Arnab Mondal cross.
Bengaluru FC have so far not being able to defeat East Bengal in two seasons so far.
In the day’s other hosts Salgaocar were held to a 0-0 stalemate by Mohun Bagan.
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