I-League: East Bengal stage fight-back to draw with Minerva Punjab; NEROCA beat Churchill

Kolkata, January 30: Katsumi Yusa missed a penalty but East Bengal fought back to draw 2-2 with Minerva Punjab in a 2017-18 I-League game at the Barasat Stadium on Tuesday (January 30).

Minerva scored twice through Sukhdev Singh (20th minute) and Chencho Gyeltshen (33rd) in the first half itself. Yusa missed from the spot in the 58th minute, but Jobby Justin started a comeback by scoring in the 59th minute as second-half substitute Brandon Vanlalremdika equalised in the 88th minute.

In the other game, NEROCA FC's Felix Chidi struck from the spot to gift them a 1-0 away win at Churchill Brothers in Goa.

Bishorjit's heroics between the sticks after Chidi's first half penalty gifts @NerocaFC a welcome win over @ChurchillB_Goa to bring their campaign back on track. #HeroILeague #CBvNFC pic.twitter.com/9Fl0IlYtnR

— Hero I-League (@ILeagueOfficial) January 30, 2018

Fixing claims dent Minerva's visit to Kolkata

East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil made seven changes to the Starting XI that lost the Kolkata derby to Mohun Bagan. He introduced goalkeeper Ubaid CK, fullbacks Mehtab Singh, Deepak Kumar, midfielders Cavin Lobo, Armand Bazie, Laldanmawia Ralte and striker Jobby Justin in place of Luis Barreto, Lalramchullova, Arnab Mondal, Mohamed Rafique and Prakash Sarkar. While Willis Plaza made the move to pastures new, Mahmoud Al Amna was injured and new signing Ansumana Kromah was on the bench.

Minerva Punjab FC had only two alterations from their win away at NEROCA FC three days ago. Deepak Devrani replaced Abhishek Ambekar as Souvik Das was put in the midfield for Altamash Sayed.

Just minutes to go, Brandon Vanlalremdika draws East Bengal level. Can they find the winner here? #KEBvMPFC #ILeague #IndianFootball

— Naveen Peter (@peterspeaking) January 30, 2018

Minerva started strong with Kamalpreet Singh's long ball finding Sukhdev Singh. Ubaid, however, managed to save it. But Salam Ranjan Singh failed to clear the loose ball to give Minerva Punjab the perfect start to the game.

Post the half-hour mark, Bhutanese international Chencho Gyeltshen took advantage of a collision between Eduardo Ferreira and Armand Bazie in an attempt to intercept Gagandeep Bali's square pass. Chencho pounced on the ball and sprinted right into the box to shoot past Ubaid in the 33rd minute.

Ansumana Kromah made his East Bengal debut when he replaced young Mehtab Singh in the 41st minute and set up Dudu Omagbemi, pushing the ball in front of the Nigerian with only the keeper to beat. But the veteran striker failed to make any connection.

This is the condition of @eastbengalfc team still you get 11k+ official attendance... Try to understand the "culture of East Bengal"... Stop fooling around and leave the club to a corporate hand @EBRPFC @ebultras1920 @ProbasheEB @ILeagueOfficial #KEBvMPFC

— Tuhin kar (@TUHIN1001) January 30, 2018

Minutes later, Katsumi Yusa was brought down by Guy Eric Dano but referee Tejas Nagvenkar did not award the penalty to the home side.

That was a clear penalty denied to East Bengal. How the ref missed it is beyond me.

— Ullas (@ullasmarar) January 30, 2018

The Japanese playmaker then failed to convert from the 12-yard spot himself as he slammed it towards Kiran Chemjong from a penalty kick won by Laldanmawia Ralte.

He made up by delivering from the corner spot for Jobby Justin to head in a perfect poacher's goal over Deepak Devrani.

Brandon Vanlalremdika's introduction spurred East Bengal's chances as his pace was too much to handle for the Minerva defenders. Debutant Kromah then initiated the move for the equalising goal. He found Ralte whose cross was brought down by Katsumi and the unmarked Brandon latched onto the backpass to slam it right past Chemjong.

However, there was no time left for the Red and Golds to score a third.

Match result: East Bengal 2 (Jobby Justin 59, Brandon Vanlalremdika 88) drew with Minerva Punjab FC 2 (Sukhdev Singh 20, Chencho Gyeltshen 33)

Source: AIFF Media