Amidst the bunch of some 'branded' footballers, one lanky unheralded striker stole the show at Naihati Stadium on Monday. He is Saurav Sen, the 23-year-old striker of BSS who won the man-of-the-match award, unleashing a deft jab past the advancing goalkeeper to equalize the score-line 1-1, forcing East Bengal to share points with unfancied BSS that has garnered only two points from four matches so far in the CFL Premier Division.

Saurav is happy to win the man-of-the-match award. But he divulged the best gift on the day was a phone call from his childhood coach Bastav Roy, congratulating him for scoring against the big team. Bastov, presently the coach of Mohun Bagan was the first football teacher of Saurav who learned the basics of the game around seven years ago at Bastov’s coaching camp at Uttarpara.

Saurav lives in Magra, a village in the Chinsura sub-division in Hooghly district. His father Sushanta Sen is a farmer. Saurav revealed that he has to contribute the major portion of his earnings from football to his family as the 55-year-old father often gets sick and his elder brother is yet to get a permanent job. 

Still, following his father’s constant encouragement Saurav has been able to continue playing football. He said, "I often help my father in paddy cultivation. Today I realize how it helped me gain strength and endurance. Still, I need to be stronger."

BSS trailing by a piercing direct free-kick goal scored by Deep Saha in the 90th minute bounced back and Saurav struck for BSS in the 97th minute from a sharp movement down the left. East Bengal goalkeeper Mohammed Nishad made the last mistake of advancing after defenders’ lapses in filling the gap in the six-yard box.

Previously, both teams had a couple of opportunities in both sessions. East Bengal's new Spanish coach Carlos Cuadrat was present at the stadium. He might not have been happy to have observed the team's poor defensive organization on the day. East Bengal has garnered 8 points from its four CFL matches so far.

In another CFL Premier Division match on the day, Peerless drubbed Mamoni & Ashiayana Pathachakra 4-1 at the Barrackpore Stadium. Carlos and Donlad scored two goals each while Sahil reduced the margin for Pathachakra.