Pune: DSK Shivajians made their presence felt in the Hero I-League with a dominating 2-0 victory over Kingfisher East Bengal at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge-Balewadi, here on Sunday.
The win was DSK Shivajians’ second of the season and was powered by a goal in each half by midfielder Douhou Pierre (10th minute) followed by a wonder-strike by Juan QueroBarasso (65th minute). The Pune-based club now has 9 points, which places them seventh in the Hero I-League table.
While the scoreline does not justify DSK Shivajians’ victory totally, the close chances missed were by the many in a game that the hosts completely dominated.
The visitors began with a bang holding on to possession for long periods. MehtabHosain had an early crack at goal, which was seen wide by the returning Subrata Paul in the goal.
However, DSK Shivajians took the lead against the run of play in the tenth minute when Surchandra Singh found a pacing PerrickDipanda on the break, as he rounded off the keeper and took a shot, but the ball hit the post and fell to Douhou Pierre, who then guided the ball in the back of the net.
DSK Shivajians carried forward the momentum from the goal as they came close to doubling their lead. In the 14th minute, Baljit, who got on the end of a ball from Juan Quero, placed his shot just wide of the East Bengal goal.
26th minute of the match saw Quero finding Milan with a lay-off, but the latter’s shot was blocked by the East Bengal, only for the ball to fell to Douhou, whose acrobatic effort was just over the bar. Moments later, Quero found Perrick with a through ball to send the captain one-on-one with the keeper, but his shot was blocked by Rehnesh.
The visitors tried to hit back in the 29th minute, but Ranti Martins’ shot was bravely blocked by HaroonAmiri, who threw his body in the way of the goal-bound ball.
Surchandra was the first player to be booked in the match as a result of his crunching tackle on Mendy in the 43rd minute. DSK Shivajians went into the half time with a goal’s advantage.
East Bengal came out spirited after the break, as they attacked the DSK Shivajians’ goal twice in the opening three minutes of the half. In the 48th minute, JoaquimAbranchesof East Bengal broke free from the right flank and took a screamer of a shot from outside the box, which went just wide of the goal.
DSK Shivajians countered right away as Perrick broke free after Douhou passed the ball to the captain’s feet, but his shot hit the side netting on its way out. 53rd minute saw Amiri find Quero with a diagonal ball,as the latter tried to find Douhou, who misjudged his run.
The home team started piling pressure on East Bengal as in the 57th minute Baljit took a shot from outside the box, which went over the bar.
The pressure paid off in the 65th minute when Juan Quero, who received the ball from Surchandra, ran at goal and unleashed a shot from 30 yards of outside the box, which beat Rehnesh on the far post, doubling DSK Shivajians’ lead in the process.
DSK Shivajians contained the match from thereon, as Subrata Paul made a string of saves in the last 20 minutes to keep East Bengal at bay. Perrick got yet another chance in the 83rd minute which was blocked by the keeper, but the ball fell to Douhou, who’s rebound was wide off the mark.
Lalhriatpuia, a product of the Liverpool FC International Academy – DSK Shivajians, made his I-League bow for DSK Shivajians when he replaced the captain PerrickDipanda in the 90th minute of the match. The Mizoram-born player nearly made it 3-0 to the home team in the dying minutes when Quero found him with a lay-off, but the youngster was unable to control the ball.
DSK Shivajians will now welcome Sporting Club de Goa to Pune for the next Hero I-League tie on 13th March 2016.
