I-League 2018-19 | NEROCA FC v East Bengal

FULL TIME : Neroca FC 0-2 East Bengal

Neroca FC with lots of possession of the ball fail to penetrate into the East Bengal as the Red and Golds have been extremely disciplined at the back. An Enrique Esqueda individual brilliance stands the difference between the two sides.

Hero I-League Action continues as Gokulam Kerala host Mohun Bagan at 5 PM. Stay Tuned to Sportskeeda for further updates.

90+2' Third and Final Change of the game for East Bengal :

OUT - Enrique Esqueda (9)
IN - Bidyasagar Singh (26)

Additional Time : 5 Minutes

87' Jerry Pulamte goes down outside the box after being challenged by Johnny Acosta, Fraile at the touchline goes berserk as the referee denies the free-kick for Neroca.

83' Neroca still playing it ball among themselves and trying to build up patiently from the back, hoping for that one opening to split the East Bengal defence which looks highly unlikely.

78' Third and Final change for Neroca :

OUT - Malem Meitei (14)
IN - Jerry Pulamte (9)

75' Neroca get in couple of crosses but nothing fruitful from either of the aerial balls into the box. However, Neroca still keep the ball.

72' Substitution for East Bengal :

OUT - Laldanmawia Ralte (17)
IN - Surabuddin Mollick

70' Substitution for Neroca FC :

OUT - Subhash Sigh (12)
IN - Ronald Singh (7)

68' Neroca FC have lost their flow in the midfield and certainly need some creativity in the midfield to at least threaten the East Bengal goal.

63' Manoj Mohammed caught stamping on Malem Meitei at the right side and gets his name into the referee's book. Too many fouls and scuffles between the two teams in the last few minutes.

60' Substitution for East Bengal :

OUT : Yami Longvah (21)
IN : Brandon Vanlalremdika (30)

58' Subhash Singh booked for bringing down Kamalpreet Singh at the middle of the park with a nudge from the back.

57' Tempers flying high after Lalramchollva goes down easily after an aerial duel with Malem. The Neroca players demand a yellow card for the East Bengal man for trying to stop the play deliberately in order to run down few minutes on the clock.

53' Neroca resorting to wing play now hoping to pull at-least one goal back. The East Bengal defence as usual has been extremely resolute and calm to clear away every lurking danger, not allowing an inch of space for the Neroca forwards to exploit.

47' GOAAAAL! Enrique Esqueda blasts in the penalty from the spot out of Boerchio's reach and makes it 2-0 for the visitors.

46' and it's a Penalty! Enrique Esqueda plays Laldanmawia forward with a clever ball which catches Neroca off-guard and the Mizo Winger is brought down inside the box.

Second half kicks-off.

Substitution at the break for Neroca FC as Katsumi is injured.

OUT - Katsumi Yusa (10)
IN - Sushil Meitei (17)

HALF TIME : Neroca FC 0-1 East Bengal

East Bengal lead at the break courtesy a calm and sublime finish from Enrique Esqueda but it has been Neroca FC all the way ever since in the first half. The Men in Orange have been trying everything to get the equaliser but the East Bengal defence led by Johnny Acosta and Borja Gomez have been extremely disciplined and have managed to thwart away every move of Neroca up the pitch.

An exciting second half coming up next. Stay Tuned to Sportskeeda.

45+3' Shot from Enrique Esqueda from distance forces Boerchio to dive at full-stretch to cover the goal after Neroca conceded possession way too cheaply. The shot is inches wide of the target and could well have been 0-2 for the away side.

45+2' Katsumi Yusa has been stretched off the field after he has taken a hit during an aerial altercation with Laldanmawia.

Additional Time : 3 Minutes

44' Jobby finds Enrique who gives it to Yami who tries to set up Lalrindika on the plate but a timely interception from Ashok Singh rescues Neroca out of the situation.

40' Neroca with a beautiful build-up from the back with one-touch play as Katsumi, Tondonba and Aryn Williams combine but an alert Borja Gomez intercepts the ball and releases Esqueda on the counter. The Mexican waits for Yami to arrive and floats the ball into the box but the cross is little heavy and Boerchio collects it.

35' East Bengal get to play some football of their own as Lalrindika fires in the ball from a free-kick but Boerchio collects with ease.

31' Neroca trying everything possible to salvage the equaliser as all the 11-men of East Bengal have been pushed back defending as Neroca come all guns blazing.

26' Eduardo Ferreira goes into the referee's book after he elbows out Jobby Justin. The players are into a some sort of scuffle and the referee has to intervene. Things getting heated here in Imphal.

23' Neroca FC have upped the ante by manifold. A cross from Aryn Williams is punched by Rakshit Dagar straight to Malem, leaving the goal empty for him to shoot. Malem's shot is somehow blocked by Manoj Mohammed on the goal as Neroca earn a corner.

The resultant corner is headed out by Borja Gomez for safety. Big let-off there for East Bengal!

20' Laldanmawia goes for goal from a free-kick but it hits the wall, the ricochet falls to Enrique Esqueda who can't find a white shirt through on goal as Neroca get back on the ball.

16' Malem swings in a good cross from the right towards Eduardo Ferreira but Rakshit Dagar comes off his line and punches it away for safety.

13' Katsumi breaks away from his defender and gets into the 18-yard box but is blocked by an on-rushing Johnny Acosta as East Bengal get back on the ball.

9' GOAAAAAAAL! Enrique Esqueda gets a lofted ball from Lalrindika Ralte and places it on his first touch past a haplesss Boerchio to put the away side ahead.

7' East Bengal build up an attack of their own from the middle of the park.

Lalrindika swings in a corner and freekick from both the flanks but Neroca defence manage to get their lines clear.

3' Neroca putting some early pressure on the visitors. Couple of corners from both the sides and a shot from Katsumi sailing over within the first three minutes.

0' Kick off! Neroca in their usual Orange attire get us underway while East Bengal have donned their new white colours introduced by co-owners Quess Corporation.

Raktim Saha is the main referee today.

Pre-Match Photographs and Handshakes done and dusted as we are all set for the kick-off.

The Neroca fans have filled the stadium to the brim as the players walk out to the middle amidst the familiar FIFA Anthem.

Former East Bengal players Katsumi Yusa and Eduardo Ferreira are all set to face their former team today while Samad Ali Mollick is excluded from the squad due to a suspension served to him during the Super Cup 2017-18 Final against Bengaluru FC.

Both the teams are yet to register a win over each other as both the games played between Neroca and East Bengal in the previous season ended in 1-1 draws.

The battlefield is ready for today's match against Quess East Bengal FC #NFCvQEBFC pic.twitter.com/h1lxIYxUVe
— Neroca FC (@NerocaFC) October 27, 2018

The tussle between @NerocaFC and @eastbengalfc hasn't been able to find a winner till date. #NFCQEB #HeroILeague #ILeagueIConquer pic.twitter.com/OgsXKLNg7i
— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) October 27, 2018

.@eastbengalfc coach Alejandro is upbeat before taking on @NerocaFC at their home.#NFCQEB #HeroILeague #ILeagueIConquer pic.twitter.com/8FHrCctJXO
— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) October 27, 2018

East Bengal XI : Dagar (GK), Manoj Mohammed, Lalramchullova, Kamalpreet Singh, Borja Gomez, Johnny Acosta, Yami Longvah, Lalrindika Ralte, Laldanmawia Ralte (C), Jobby Justin, Enrique Esqueda

Substitutes : Ubaid CK (GK), Surabuddin Mollick, Kassim Aidara, Lalrozama Fanai, Salam Ranjan Singh, Bidyasagar Singh, Brandon Vanlalremdika

The Line-ups are in!

Neroca FC XI : Boerchio (GK), Rojen Meetei, Eduardo Ferreira, Ashok Singh, Tondomba Singh, Katsumi Yusa, Felix Chidi, Subhash Singh, Malemnganba Meitei, Denechandram Meitei, Aryn Williams (C)

Substitutes : Ronald Singh, Jerry Puamte, Lalit Thapa (GK), Sebastian Thangmuansang, Sushil Meitei, Abdul Salam, Biaklian Paite

Good afternoon! This is Sayak, your host for the day as I will keep you company for the next three hours or so, bringing you all the action from Imphal!

I-League 2018-19 | NEROCA FC v East Bengal | As it happened

FT : Neroca 0-2 East Bengal