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Kolkata giants East Bengal Club went top of the 2017/18 I-League with their fourth win in a row with a 1-0 win over newcomers Gokulam Kerala FC at the Saltlake Stadium on Wednesday evening.
After a slow start, an East Bengal corner in the 14th minute saw the the rebound reach Mohammed Rafique, whose chip was kept out by Gokulam Kerala FC goalkeeper Bilal Khan with a one handed touch for another corner.
Only a couple of minutes later at the other end a free-kick for Gokulam Kerala FC. It is taken by Substitute Francis Ambane Moubourou which hits the upright with keeper Luis Xavier Barreto cleanly beaten.
And the guests from Kerala now had their best phase in the match. In the 23rd minute, a long ball for Ivorian striker Stephane Kamo Bayi and a good strike was just about kept out with a touch by red and gold defender Eduardo with the ball going over for a corner.
Then came the 44th minute and the moment of the match. Another East Bengal corner, Vicky Meitei just about clears the ball out of danger, but there is India midfielder Mohammed Rafique and with a wonder strike into the far corner of the net gives East Bengal a 1-0 half-time lead.
After the restart the match continued at its slow pace until a foul woke-up both the benches and the sparse home crowd. Midfielder Rohit Mirza with an uncontrolled late challenge on Katsumi Yusa, saw him hit the Japanese on the knee with both players going down. After some thought referee Umesh Bora showed Rohit Mirza a straight red card and the Mumbai lad had to go off also due to a likely sustained injury while Katsumi tried to play on but went off a few minutes later.
East Bengal somehow could not make the one man advantage work for them despite having changes to enhance their lead. In the 55th minute Charles de Souza went through on the left, but Bilal Khan in goal was up to the task, then in the 67th minute Trinidadian striker Willis Plaza on the right wing went through but his shot was blocked by keeper Bilal Khan and then in the 85th minute a free-kick was fired over by defender Eduardo Ferreira.
In the end East Bengal went on to win 1-0 in unimpressive fashion, but the points count and they go top of the I-League with 13 points from six matches, while Gokulam Kerala FC stay on four points from five matches.
East Bengal now travel to Imphal to face another newcomer in NEROCA FC on Saturday, December 30; while Gokulam Kerala FC travel to Aizawl FC to face the champions on Sunday, December 31.
