East Bengal ensure the 41st CFL title, Lalkamal claims referee ‘tarnished’ East Bengal’s victory
Within 94 minutes after receiving the last season’s CFL winner’s trophy from Mayor Firhad Hakim, East Bengal ensured their second consecutive CFL title at home on Monday. The post-match jubilation of the fans may indicate that the red-and-gold brigade grabbed the title effortlessly. The first 45 minutes looked alike. East Bengal had superiority. They created opportunities. Their ISL-experienced footballers, like David, PV Vishnu, and Sayan Bannerjee, missed a series of sitters before David drew first blood in the 43rd minute. United custodian Raunak Ghosh was brilliant, saving his team from conceding a couple of goals in the first session. But United Sports bounced back after the break. Exhibiting excellent passing football that helped gain possession in the middle third, United Sports put East Bengal’s midfield and defenders to embarrassment. The reflection was vivid when Amit Basak equaled the score-line with a header from inside the box on a measured center from Srinath M from right. The impact of pressure by the United Sports also transpired among the fans as they looked scared and started offering abusive chanting continuously out of frustration. East Bengal would have been the League champion even with a 1-1 draw. Still Shyamal Besra gave them the lead in the 89th minute from a goalmouth melee. But before East Bengal took the lead, United Sports were clearly deprived of a spot-kick when Dipesh Murmu was pushed from behind inside the box as the ball was in front of him, and East Bengal custodian was in a dilemma while coming forward to ward off the movement. The score-line could have been 2-1 in favor of United Sports. Lalkamal Bhowmick, the coach of United Sports, said, “East Bengal won the title. But today their victory was tarnished by the referee. It was not a fair victory.”
Abhishek retorts with bat and words
After Sunday’s India -Pakistan clash in Dubai Abhishek Sharma has become a household name in both the countries. Now, He is known as a tormentor after a thrashing 74 off just 39 balls, which steered India again to earn a comfortable six-wicket victory in the Super-four clash against Pakistan in Dubai. Abhishek not only hit sixes but responded to sledging attempts by Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi with words of his own. Tension was evident from the first over. Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma walked out with intent, while Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf met them with stares and words. Abhishek responded immediately, striking over the boundary and exchanging words with Afridi. Soon, both Indian openers exchanged words with the Pakistani bowlers. If the battle on the field wasn’t enough, Abhishek made sure to carry the momentum off it too. Hours after sealing the six-wicket win, he posted pictures from the match with a simple caption, ‘You talk, we win,’ and the post became viral. In his post-match chat, Abhishek made it clear, saying, “The way they were coming out to us without any reason, I did not like it at all. That’s why I went after them. I wanted to deliver for the team.” His words summed up India’s night in Dubai. Pakistan had started with fire, racing to 91 for the loss of one wicket inside 10 overs, but ended with only 171 on the board as the Indian bowlers clawed back. In reply, India’s openers turned the chase into a spectacle.
