Bagan cement pole position

Nigerian Abarowei opened the score in the 17th minute. The goal originated with a James Singh flag-kick from the right. The ball sailed over the BSF box and reached Lolendro Singh on the left. The Bagan skipper, overlapping from his left-back position, sent the ball towards the centre of the BSF box. Shkvirin tapped it towards Abarowei, who managed to put it past the outstretched BSF goalkeeper Bibhas Saha.

Dipendu Biswas came in as a substitute for Abarowei in the middle of the second half and got the second goal for his team. The groundwork was done by Jose Barreto on the right. The Brazilian, after going past the BSF defence, crossed the ball to Shkvirin on the left. As the BSF players crowded in between the Ubek and the goal, he sent the ball to Biswas, who was left unmarked. Biswas just had to extend his leg to score.

Later in the first half, apart from the regular misses, Samuel Omollo, who quite often jumped out of his stopper-back position to join the attack, could not connect a header from hand-shaking distance.

The Bagan attacks continued in the second half, forcing the BSF players to crowd their defence. The Punjab side played a more organised game when compared to their previous match against East Bengal. However, they were against a team with greater rhythm.

Four minutes earlier, Shkvirin was unlucky to miss a strike after beating the BSF defence to come within six yards of the goal. However, his flick hit the far post before going out.

BSF never really had a chance in the match and unlike the game against East Bengal, they never looked like grabbing a point off Bagan. Goalkeeper Bibhas Saha was firm as usual, but the jittery defence was hardly a comfort for him.

East Bengal will hope to gain full points against Tollygunge Aggragami on Wednesday at the Salt Lake Stadium here.