'%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)
East Bengal hosted Chennai City FC int he I-League in what was a do or die game for the Red and Golds. Any slip in points would have crushed the East Bengal’s hopes of winning the league this season. With just three round of games left in the league, every game is like a final for both the teams but for different reasons. East Bengal wants to win the league whereas Chennai wants to save relegation.
East Bengal put their foot on the gas right from the onset and the urgency in their game was showing by the number of attacks they mounted in the Chennai goal in the first 5 minutes. They had gone 2-0 up by the 25th minute and were in cruise control. The halftime score read 3-0 in favour of the Red and Golds.
East Bengal increased their lead to 5-0 within the first 10minutes of the second half, with Dudu completing his hattrick. The final score read 7-1 in favour of East Bengal with Dudu scoring four, Amna and Gabriel Scoring one each and Ravanan scoring an own goal. With this win East Bengal is still in the hunt for the I league.
On that note, let's take a look at the player ratings from today’s game
East Bengal
Ubaid C.K (6/10): Ubaid was not called into action much but he did perform well whenever he was called upon. He made one very good save from a Joachim header.
LalramChullova (7/10): Chullova played a delicious 40yard ball for Al Amna for the first goal that East Bengal scored. It was Chullova again whose darting run and cross resulted in the second goal. Probably he played his best game this season.
Mehtab Singh (7/10): Mehtab played some lovely crosses into the box, especially the crosses that he played from near the halfway line was sublime. Some of his crosses was undoubtedly the best crosses we have seen this season.
Eduardo Ferreira (7/10): Eduardo was a rock in the back for East Bengal. He was the main reason Rakic was kept so quiet today. He also dealt with all the aerial balls that were put into the East Bengal box with ease.
Gurwinder Singh (7/10): Gurwinder filled in for the suspended Arnab Mondol, and put in a performance which will surely put him in the reckoning for a starting XI spot in the upcoming games. He was solid and made some crucial blocks. He also helped his team build up play from the back.
Cavin Lobo (8/10): Lobo had the free role in the midfield today, as he rallied between attack and defence perfectly, he won a lot of second balls in midfield and ensured that Chennai didn’t create too many openings despite having more ball possession.
Katsumi Yusa (8.5/10): Katsumi played in an unusual position as a deep-lying midfielder. He did his job to near perfection as he tracked back very well, won the ball in midfield and made sure that Amna had the freedom to move forward in attack. Katsumi had a high number of interceptions and blocks.
Md. Al Amna (9/10): The first 20 minutes of the game was the Al Amna show, scored a good goal after a darting run and taking on three defenders. He did see two of shots blocked by the keeper only to score of the third the rebound. He completely controlled the midfield. He completely controlled the game and rarely put a foot wrong today.
Brandon Vanlalremdika (7/10): Brandon had a start after a long time, and played a good game. His runs down both the flanks were really praiseworthy and his partnership with both Chullova and Mehtab resulted in goals for East Bengal.
Kromah (7/10): Kromah provided two vital assists, and worked very hard to get his name on the scoresheet. He really kept the Chennai defence running after shadows with his clever runs and movements. He was selfish though at times and could have passed it to a teammate instead of going for the shot.
Dudu Omegbemi (9.5/10): Dudu looked lively in the first half, he scored a good goal after stealing the ball right from the defender and goalkeepers gasps and putting it into an open net. Dudu scored his second goal in the second half with a thundering strike from inside the box. He completed his hattrick with a nice finish from a Kromah though ball. He went on to score another goal, to take his total I league goals of this season to 5.
Chennai City FC
Kabir (6/10): Even though he conceded a lot of goals, Kabir made some brilliant saves, had he not made those saves Chennai would have conceded goals in the double digits today.
Veniamin Shumeiko (4/10): He had big problems in communication with his defensive partner and also with his Goalkeeper. Shumeiko also had issues coping with the physical presence of Amna, Dudu, and Kromah. He was left ball-watching during the 4th goal that East Bengal scored.
Dharmaraj Ravanan (4/10): Ravanan had a torrid start to the game, he was put under pressure right from the first minute and looked to be chasing shadows while keeping the likes of Amna and Dudu in check.
Edwin Vanspaul (5/10): Edwin had a difficult time in the first half, Mehtab, Kromah, and Brandon ran circles around him, he was time and again beaten by Mehtab and he did very little to stop the crosses from getting into the box.
Asif Kottayil (6/10): Asif was probably the best defender for Chennai in the first half, he went forward and helped his side in attack, he also made sure that he tracked the runs of the East Bengal wingers.
Pandiyan Srinivasan (6/10): Pandiyan was good in the middle of the park, as he worked really hard to cover Amna, Katsumi, and Lobo. Even though the scoreboard doesn’t show his contribution but he really was a big factor in ensuring Chennai kept hold of the ball more than East Bengal. He made some crucial interceptions and blocks.
Soosai Raj (5/10): Looked lively in the initial moments of the match, but gradually faded away as the East Bengal midfield took charge of the game. He did play some good through balls to his strikers.
Alexander Jesuraj (5/10): Alexander Jesuraj was poor down the right wing for Chennai. He couldn’t make many inroads down the flanks and his passing and crossing were way below par.
Joachim Junior (6/10): Joachim Junior was the most dangerous player for Chennai up front, as he provided a brilliant assist, and had a good attempt at goal only to see Ubaid save it.
Aleksandar Rakic (4/10): Rakic hardly had the ball at his feet, and he was often seen as an isolated figure up front. He only had one shot on target and that too from a free kick from 20 yards out.
Donghyeon Kim (5/10): Kim dropped deep in search of the ball and was often seen inside his own penalty box helping out his defenders. Kim did make some interceptions, but his passing and build up play were poor.
