Playing with the flair that made it the I-League champion, Salgaocar SC beat East Bengal 3-1 to regain the Federation Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Thursday.
Having last won the title 14 years ago (1997) beating the same opponent here, Salgaocar repeated history in style. East Bengal, which was looking for a hat-trick of triumphs, was halted by Salgaocar's better organisation and efficiency.
Winning formula
Karim Bencherifa, Salgaocar's Moroccan coach, proved he possessed the winning formula becoming the first foreign coach to win the I-League and the Federation Cup in a single calendar year. This was Salgaocar's fourth Federation Cup title.
Nigerian Edeh Chidi began the scoring for Salgaocar before Francis Fernandes doubled the lead. Scottish striker Alan Gow reduced the margin converting a penalty, but Japanese substitute Ryuiji Sueoka took the match away from the host making it 3-1 late in the second half.
Morgan surprised all by starting with his favourite midfielder Mehtab Hussain. But the ploy failed as Mehtab limped off after only four minutes having aggravated a groin injury after a bad fall.
Chidi on song
Chidi realised the lead in the fifth minute putting the finishing touches to an assist from midfield by Elijah Junior. East Bengal introduced Sanju Pradhan in place of Mehtab, but the home side looked unsure in its formation and struggled to counter Salgaocar's offensives.
In the 19th minute, Chidi proved his class once again setting up right-half Francis Fernandes with a clever flick. Though Sandip Nandy, under the East Bengal bar, blocked the attempt, the ball rebounded to Fernandes, who did not make any mistake this time.
In the 23rd minute referee M.B. Santhosh Kumar of Kerala awarded East Bengal a penalty when Salgaocar's Brazilian defender Luciano Sabrosa brought down Orji Penn. Alan Gow found the goal from the spot to bring the host back into the game.
But, even as East Bengal groped for the right move, despite introducing Tolgay as the third attacker, Salgaocar found its third goal off a well-mounted counterattack.
Nandy made another error, spilling a cross from Chidi in the 66th minute. Sueoka, left unmarked, stole in to slot the rebound home.
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