I-League 2015/16: Mendy debuts in style as East Bengal edge past spirited Aizawl

By Amlan Majumdar, SportsCafe Editor

02/05/2016

A brilliant debut from former French International Bernard Mendy, which included a 74th minute goal, after Bikash Jairu’s 72nd minute header helped East Bengal notch up a 2-0 win against Aizawl FC to move into the second position in the table at the Barasat District Sports Stadium in Kolkata on Friday.

Starting Lineups:

East Bengal: Luis Barreto(GK), Bheke, Arnab(C), Rassaq, Saumik, Mendy, Mehtab, CS Sabeeth, Do Dong Hyun, Jairu, Ranti Martins.

Aizawl FC: Soram Poirei (GK), Lalrinpuia, Lalramchullova, Emmanuel Chigozie, Lalruatthara, Kinowaki, Lalrinmuana(C), Lalbiakthanga, Kimkima, Ricky, Jaryan.

With TP Rehenesh, Narayan Das and Samad Ali Mallick away with the Indian team for SAF Games, coach Biswajit Bhattacharya was forced to change the team that lost 0-1 to Bengaluru FC last week. Luis Barreto, Bheke, Saumik Dey and Sabeeth came into the lineup along with former French international Bernard Mendy, who was handed a debut. However, change in personnel did not bring any change in the tactics with the Red and Gold brigade sticking to their favourite 4-2-3-1 formation with Ranti Martins leading the line.

On the other hand, Aizawl FC were coming on the back of a 1-1 away draw against Salgaocar, and coach Manuel Retamero made three changes to the XI in search of an upset victory. Chigozie, Lalrinmuana and Jaryan came into the side instead of Lalbiakhlua, Malsawnmtluanga and Yonezawa in what looked like a 5-3-2 formation.

With a former French international on the field, all eyes were on Bernard Mendy from the start. Mendy started in the midfield partnering Mehtab Hossain and looked in a mood to impress the crowd by showing off his skills to wiggle through the Aizawl defence. Aware of the danger of Ranti Martins and Do Dong-Hyun, the Mizoram team packed their team with five defenders and tried to hit the Red and Gold brigade on counters.

Four out of five goals scored by East Bengal in the season were by Ranti Martins, and it looked almost another goal for the Nigerian in the 37th minute. A cross from Bikash Jairu from the left found the striker alone in the middle, and Ranti’s shot looked destined for the goal before Soram Poirei’s legs deflected it away to keep the scores deadlocked before the break.

If it was all Red and Gold before the break, then it was the total opposite after. Aizawl raced out of the blocks for the second half and pestered the East Bengal defence with attack after attack. Jaryan and Lalrinpuia tested Barreto a couple of times, but no clear cut opportunity in the final third for the Mizoram side kept the scores tied at 0-0.

With things slowly drifting away from the home side, Biswajit Bhattacharya brought on Cavin Lobo and Jaoquim Abranches in place of Sabeeth and Do Dong-Hyun to reinvigorate the attacking line. And the tactics almost proved successful with chances falling to Bernard Mendy and Ranti Martins. A free header from Mendy and a scuffed shot from Ranti Martins found their end in Soram Poirei, and the custodian kept his composure to keep his team in the game.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 72nd minute with Bikash Jairu, probably the smallest man on the field, producing a diving header off a Joaquim Abranches cross to open the scoring. It was 2-0 within two minutes as another header beat Soram Poirei at the near post. Debutant Bernard Mendy guided the cross from Cavin Lobo to the near post and the ball crossed the line before Soram Poirei could save it.

Biswajit Bhattacharya’s move to bring Cavin Lobo and Abranches into the wings and push Jairu behind Ranti Martins worked perfectly for the home side to notch up a 2-0 win against the spirited Aizawl side.

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