I-League: Esqueda double helps East Bengal beat Neroca

East Bengal rode on Mexican recruit Enrique Esqueda's brace to beat hosts Neroca FC 2-0 in an I-League game at the Khuman Lampak stadium here on Saturday.

Neroca dominated possession but their opponents looked always in control particularly with Esqueda's early strike in the 10th minute of the match to get them on their way.

Esqueda doubled the lead through a penalty in early second-half to seal the deal for the Kolkata giants.

The game between the fourth-placed Kolkata side and second-placed Neroca from last year's edition, gave enough evidence of the quality the two sides possess but the day belonged to East Bengal, who logged full points on what would have been a satisfactory display for newly appointed Spanish coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia.

The home team incidentally also had a new Spanish coach and Manuel Fraile opted to start with a flat 4-4-2 formation as was expected.

With the hosts down early, the otherwise quality game saw some needless frayed tempers through the game.

Katsumi was clearly the target of some needle and in all three players including Eduardo Ferriera, Singham Subash and Manoj got themselves booked in the three flare-ups which happened across the two-halves.

The home team lost Katsumi to injury just before the end of the first half to further dent their plans.

Neroca had the lion's share of possession through the game but could not create enough clear chances.

Midfielder Malemngamba Meetei was guilty of missing their best chance in the 25th minute when off a wonderful ball by Katsumi Yusa out to the left flank, Singham Subash floated a cross which Rakshit Dagar in East Bengal goal made heavy weather of.

Malemn on the rebound with the goalkeeper down and out, essayed a feeble effort which was saved on the goaline by Yami Longwah.

East Bengal were clearly looking happy to sit back on the lead however, the threat of Esqueda kept rearing itself up when in the 42nd minute he found Yami in the clear inside the box with a delectable lob, but the youngster could not reap rewards.

Then in the injury time, he latched on to a blooper by Rojen Meetei in the Neroca defence and struck across the goal from far beating the goalkeeper but missing the target.

He was not to be denied in the 48th minute however, when Ralte was adjudjed to be brought down inside the box by Denechandram Meetei. The Mexican converted with a powerful strike.

Eduardo, in the 73rd minute, had Neroca's best chance of the half, when he executed a perfect central defender's header off a corner, but the powerful strike caught Esqueda's leg and sailed over the bar.

Coach Fraile even tried his luck with Ronald Singh who had come off the bench a couple of times last season to score but could not find the target this time.

Hero of the match Esqueda was deservedly given a break in the dying minutes of injury time and East Bengal came off deserving winners.

--IANS

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