East Bengal end Lajong dream run, lift Fed Cup

Guwahati: East Bengal clinched the Federation Cup football title by overcoming giant-killer Lajong FC of Shillong in a keenly contested summit clash that stretched into the penalty shootout here on Sunday. Yusif Yakubu, Nirmal Chhetri and Sanju Pradhan scored for the Kolkata outfit in the penalty shootout after stipulated 90 minutes as well as the extra-time failed to determine the champion of the prestigious tournament. Lajong, who had shocked I-League champions Churchill Brothers 1-0 to book their maiden final berth earlier, rode on the crowd support to thwart the Kolkata giant in the regulation time before losing the plot in the penalty stage. Earlier, the match saw a well-contested but barren first half with Lajong defenders standing firm to save their citadel despite some nippy attack by East Bengal. The Kolkata outfit came tantalizingly close to scoring when Harmanjot Khabra was allowed by Lajong defenders to take a free header at the near post off a corner but he failed to find the net. The Shillong boys looked quite dangerous on counter-attack and East Bengal, despite their early dominance, could not take it easy for even a second. Just before the breather, Subhash Singh curled in a pass into the penalty box and it almost sneaked through for Harmanjot at the far post, but an alert Boithang did his job rightly under the bars. Although, East Bengal looked a better side in the second half, the Baichung Bhutia-led team could not penetrate into the Sikkim citadel despite several attempts. East Bengal charted a quick attack to the end of second half, but a visibly tired Yakubu could not found the back of the net as his wobbly shot failed to get past the Lajong custodian. The Lajong men continued with their no-hold-barred effort in the extra time also and fought neck to neck to keep the ball in their possession, much to the cheer of huge crowd present at the Nehru Stadium. Yakubu again came up the front with the ball and entered the Lajong penalty box for the second time, but could not deceive the custodian. During penalty shootout, Anil Gurung, Samson Ramengmawia and Kyrshan Lyngshing took the kicks for Lajong but failed to open the goalmouth. Although Harmanjot missed the third penalty for the Kolkata team, Sanju made no mistake to score and seal the winning goal for his side. PTI