I-League Media Team
PUNE: Six minutes of magical run by Macpherlin Omagbemi Dudu all but silenced host Bharat FC into submission as Kolkata giants East Bengal scored 3-0 win in the Round 15 match of the Hero I-League football championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex Stadium here on Wednesday.
Dudu made it look so easy scoring in the 17th and 23rd minutes to stun the home team all corners. Barring a few chances towards the end, Bharat FC gave up the fight early on as Kolkatans raised the tempo of the match after going 2-0 up midway through the first half.
Ranti Martins made it 3-0 well into the second half when he was fouled by Bharat FC goalkeeper Arimdam Bhattacharja in the 71st minute.
The win gave East Bengal full three points that took them to No 5 position behind Pune FC on 16 points from 11 matches. Bharat FC, on the other hand, stayed at No 9 position with 11 points from 11 matches.
The Nigerian striker Dudu almost began from where he left off when he last played on this ground for FC Pune City in the ISL. Bharat FC tried to mark him but Dudu had the guile to wriggle out and run free to make his moves.
It was Cavin Lobo who set the ball rolling when he drifted the ball from the left and Dudu dodged his marker to surge up and head the goal-bound ball into the net.
It was Robert Hassell who was beaten by Mehtab Hossien to snatch the ball before letting Lobo take it further. Mehtab was clearly up to the mark as he continued to hassle Hassell after the ball had been headed in by Dudu.
That shook Bharat FC out of slumber, but soon then found defending a fascinating run from Lalrindika Ralte, The diminutive striker shot the left-footer from just outside the box and the ball swirls midair, but Arindam’s reflexes saw him punch out the danger for a corner.
On the counter Bharat FC earned a freekick needlessly conceded by Ralte, but Hassell’s shot from about 40 yards caused no harm.
Then came the beauty of a goal when Dudu shot a neat strike—again Cavin Lobo setting him up from the left. Dudu had the chance to smash the ball past charging Arindam, but the Nigerian preferred to chip it over the ‘keeper before heading into the other side of the goal.
