East Bengal rip MSC

A weakened Mohammedan Sporting Club meekly surrendered a 0-3 defeat to East Bengal in the second semifinal of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup at the MA Aziz Stadium yesterday. The Kolkata giants, who themselves had brought an all but second-string side to Bangladesh after releasing 14 players for the Indian Super League, will take on hosts Chittagong Abahani in the final on Friday.

Fielding a fit-enough side was the main challenge for Mohammedan coach Josimuddin Ahmed Joshi, who had to make do with whatever he had at his disposal. Influential winger Mohammad Ibrahim was left out of the starting eleven while striker Nabib Newaz Jibon was given strong antibiotics to alleviate his stomach problem. Wingers Mobarak Hossain and Faisal Ahmed took the field after having recovered from fever in time.

Although the Black and Whites failed to replicate their group-stage performance, they should have at least taken the lead in the third minute but Mobarak’s beautifully-worked delivery found no one at hand to poke home. Two minutes later Jibon headed a well-judged cross from Arup Kumar Baidya awfully wide of target.

East Bengal took the lead, somewhat against the run of play, in the tenth minute when Nigerian striker Ranti Martins tapped home a cross from Abinash Ruidas which Mohammedan defender Mintu Sheikh failed to clear.

Mohammedan got a decent opportunity to get level but Jibon drove his shot wide from inside the six-yard box in the 14th minute. Goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana brilliantly denied Martins and Mohammad Rafique to keep the margin to a minimum before the break but the former Army goalkeeper could not stop Rafique three minutes into the second half.

This time defender Yonta Michael, who was blamed for the lone goal Mohammedan conceded against De Spin Ghar Bazan in their opening match, lost possession on the edge of the box and Rafique darted to bury the ball home on the second attempt.

Mohammedan players looked too tired to keep pace with East Bengal, who grasped that opportunity with both hands to launch numerous attacks. Despite Rana denying the opposition several times, he could not stop the third goal in the 52nd minute when Prohlad Roy went deep inside the left-hand box and chipped it for Martins, who found the back of the net with an effortless header.

Mohammedan sent three fresh legs in place of Faisal, Mobarak and Arup but the changes failed to make any impact as the surprising run of the youthful squad ended with a helpless defeat, ending the possibility of an all-Bangladeshi outfits final.