'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After 90 minutes of resolute defending on display by the visiting side, Real Kashmir FC which reduced East Bengal to just managing to get a single point after constant forward play, it is safe to say that the Snow Leopards' defensive approach may just do the job for the entirety of the season and get them placed in a position higher than the expectations before the end of the season.
Real Kashmir FC's approach was very lucid and simple. They just had to keep on defending, go for the half-chances to clear the looming balls and stay patient till they could find an opening and David Robertson's men executed the same to perfection leaving the East Bengal players and the fans perplexed and embittered.
Real Kashmir stays third in the I-League standings being level on points with League Leaders Neroca FC and Chennai City FC with an inferior goal-difference when taking into account the games between the Top Three.
Sportskeeda brings to you the Top 3 Talking points from this clash from the Upper Half of the table which could gone either way :
#1 Resolute Kashmir Defence
'Offence wins games. Defence wins championships', once a wise man said.
The Championship may be far from the reckoning as far as David Robertson's side is concerned but if they keep on pulling-off such results with a gritty defensive performance game-by-game, the first ever Kashmiri I-League side may just pull-off yet another Fairy-Tale in March.
The Defensive Prowess of Real Kashmir studded with the likes of Loveday Okechukwu, Dharmaraj Ravanan and Abhas Thapa were on top form today.
With the reinforcements in Bazie Armand and Farhan Ganie at the defensive midfield giving extra impetus to the Kashmiri defence, made life hard for Joby Justin and Jaime Colado throughout the 90 minutes with no clear-cut opening.
The Kashmir defenders closed on quickly on to the East Bengal strikers and Wingers giving the Red and Golds no space to pass it among themselves in the opposite half.
Real Kashmir FC also successfully thwarted the numerous crosses and corners away given their advantage in the air courtesy the presence of a sturdy Loveday Okechukwu.
If David Robertson's side keeps on delivering such overall and discipline performances, the people of the Valley can hope for something special by the end of the season.
#2 Clueless East Bengal attacking front
After three wins on the trot for Alejandro Menendez's side with eight goals in three games, it looked like the offensive woes of East Bengal have finally resolved.
But the lack of incisiveness and vision upfront was clearly evident from East Bengal as the striker Joby Justin with his withdrawing strike-partner Jaime Colado.
The absence of Enrique Esqueda and attacking midfielder Antonio Dovale in the East Bengal line-up was clearly visible as the East Bengal midfield regularly resorted to long-ball play in desperation after not being able to open up the Kashmiri defence at all.
The wing-play was also below-par from the Red and Golds as both the full-backs Lalramchullova and Manoj Mohammed seldom got any impressive crosses along with Brandon Vanlalremdika and Laldanmawia Ralte.
Although Joby Justin did score to add on to his dream run this season, Menendez has to go back to the drawing room and chalk out new strategies to get the strikers more chances at goal.
As per reports within the Club, Antonio Dovale would soon sign on the dotted lines as an East Bengal Player after the Transfer Window opens on January 1 which would give some respite to East Bengal's offensive and midfield woes.
#3 Lalramchullova struggles the whole time
After putting up an impressive string of performances at the back, wings and over the ball in the set-pieces, the 23-year old Mizoram based side back was not at his top form today.
He was taken on for a ride by the Ivorian Striker Gnohere Krizo for the few numbers of balls he got.
Chullova, as he is popularly known as, even succumbed to putting the ball into his own net, scoring an own goal while attempting to clear a Surchandra Singh cross from the right, straight after the second-half kicked-off.
Lalramchullova also gave away possession way too cheaply for his standards which put East Bengal on the back-seat suddenly when they were trailing. The Mizo-defender needs to have a bit more of composure to get above the problems.
A little more preparedness and sharp-sightedness before making a particular tackle or a pass would do a lot good to Ajejandro Menendez or else the Spaniard may be forced to bring in Samad Ali Mallick in place of Lalramchullova.
