East Bengal beat KMS 5-2 in Kolkata Premier League

Kolkata: Former champions East Bengal continued with their brilliant form and beat Kalighat Milan Samity (KMS) 5-2 in a Sahara Kolkata Premier Football League match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday. Though East Bengal have won all their matches in this league so far and have collected 30 points after 10 games, their defence proved vulnerable at the beginning and conceded an early goal in today`s match. Trailing by a goal by Prosenjit Neogi of KMS, who headed home in the sixth minute, East Bengal took some time to settle down before pumping in three goals within a span of six minutes to return to victory path. KMS, the bottom side of the 17-team CFL, which has so far collected 12 points from 10 outings, cracked the defence once and shook thrice as former JCT defenders Gurwinder Singh and Sunil Kumar had a terrible time to check Christopher and Abinav Pal`s combination. Christopher was adjudged Man of the Match. East Bengal had to wait for about 40 minutes before a breakthrough came from Nigerian Penn Orji, whose score took him to eight goals, one behind Mohun Bagan`s Edeh Chidi. The victory proved East Bengal an invincible side this season so far recording 15 straight wins, including five in the Federation Cup. While Penn Orji, who scored a lone goal for EB in the previous game against Tollygunge Agragami, slotted home a cross from captain Sanju Pradhan in the 39th minute and Robin Singh struck twice. Winger Robin Singh`s first goal came from penalty when he was tripped by A Majumder in the 43rd minute and his second goal-double came from a stinging left footer off a Tolgay Ozbay pass into the stoppage time. Soon after the changeover Australian recruit Ozbay scored the fourth goal for East Bengal within five minutes and his brace came after KMS to reduce the margin. Tolgay, who led East Bengal in the Federation Cup, struck home from Penn Orji`s cross to give his side 5-2 win which will definitely boost the morale before their departure for New Delhi to play in Durand Cup. KMS, before conceding the fifth goal, however, reversed the trend when their Nigerian striker Christopher reduced the difference from penalty. Referee Kali Shankar Banerjee whistled for a spot kick when EB`s defender Sunil Kumar handled the ball inside the dreaded zone. Lanky Christopher, who troubled East Bengal defence on three occasions in the first half in absence of Uga Okpara, converted the spot kick to beat Jayanta Paul on his left. PTI