Shillong: All is definitely not well, both in and around the East Bengal camp. The equation just got tougher for them in the I-League table after Monday’s unexpected 2-2 draw at Shillong. Things further took a wrong turn as there was more embarrassment in store for the club officials.
Sources in Shillong reveal that a group of East Bengal fans were reportedly involved in an altercation with an unnamed club official in front of the team hotel at around 10:30 pm.
“Around 20-25 people went in front of the East Bengal team hotel at 10:30 pm. They had gathered there to talk to the officials when one of them was manhandled,” a source privy to the incident revealed in an exclusive chat with SportsCrunch.
Although things were brought under control soon, the discontentment and uneasiness within the fans was strongly communicated. Things aren’t headed in the right direction for the Red and Golds, right at the business end of the I-League.
Walking into their penultimate match as one of the strong contenders for the title, East Bengal got off to a flying start with veteran striker Dudu Omagbemi giving the Kolkata giants the lead, which they maintained till the breather.
But repeated fightback from the home team coupled with a horrendous tackle from Mehtab Singh resulted in a penalty, which saw the visitors trail 1-2 in no time, staring at a shocking defeat. But it was Dudu once again, who came to the rescue, heading home a goal in the dying moments of the game to fetch his team one crucial point, which atleast kept them alive in the hunt for their maiden I-League title.
Although East Bengal dominated for most part of the match, shoddy defending along with some poor efforts in the midfield cost them two crucial points-which would have possibly propelled them to the second spot.
Now, it all boils down to the March 8- a day which would decide who among the top four- Minerva Punjab, Neroca FC, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal walks away with the coveted league title. While Neroca battle East Bengal at the iconic Salt Lake stadium, Mohun Bagan and Minerva Punjab take on Gokulam Kerala and Churchill Brothers respectively.
While each team among the top four require a win at any cost to have a chance of getting their hands on the title, there would indeed be a lot at stake for the Goa-based Churchill Brothers, who would have a last chance to save themselves from getting relegated.