EB score emphatic win in AFC Cup

And as expected, it was star East Bengal striker Edmilson Marques slotted in a spectacular half-volley to ensure full points for the city side who now have three points from two outings.

East Bengal had lost 0-1 in their lung-opener opposite Lebanese club Safa FC in Beirut a week back.

Sana’a had to remain satisfied with a solitary point they had bagged following a 1-1 draw against Jordan’s Al Wihdat in their inaugural tie.

The Federation Cup champions went into the lead in the 34th minute when Ibe Ikechukwu Gift’s volley deflected off Sana’a defender Ahmed Khalili and went to unmarked Brazilian Edmilson.

The striker found himself clear inside the box and fired a power-packed right-footer that banged into the net giving no chance to rival goalkeeper Manaudh Abdul Khaleej. The Yemenis looked enterprising in the initial minutes as they used their big frame to advantage in trying to build attacks down the right flank, but failed to create positive chances.

East Bengal took some time to gauge their opponents before having a look at the visitor’s goal in the 12th minute. Edmilson essayed a cross from the right flank, but Nabi’s header flew over. The red-and-gold brigade gradually ceased control with the Yemenis having sapped off all energy in the hot and humid condition.

Playing before a sparse crowd at their familiar Yuva Bharati Krirangan, East Bengal pushed Sana’a on the defensive midway into the opening half as they carried out incisive raids deep into the foreigners’ defence line.

The hosts earned three consecutive flag kicks in the 28th, 29th and 30th minute which exposed the brittleness of the Sana’a defence.

The first corner by Alvito d’Cunha saw the Sana’a custodian fisting the ball which went off one of his defenders to drop near the goal line before going out.

Alvito’s second corner was headed by Nabi, and the goalkeeper again tried to fist and off his finger the ball struck the bar and went out off a defender. Edmilson claimed that the defender had handled the ball, but the Japanese referee Tojo Minoru saw no merit in the appeal.

With their medios and forwards coordinating well, East Bengal carried out waves off swift attacks in the remaining part of the first half, much to the glee of their fans in the galleries.

The Yemeni outfit, having seven players in their ranks who did duty for their national side that blanked India 3-0 in Goa, looked more purposeful after the breather in their quest for the equaliser.

As East Bengal switched to a defensive mode, the tourists pressed hard and created four chances, but in the end failed to make any mark on the final scoreline. The veteran striker Ala al Sassi and Adel Alsalemi squandered two chances each.

Two of the moves deserve special mention. In the 70th minute, Sassi unleashed a firm shot from top of the box, and East Bengal custodian Subrata Paul could only get a hand to it. But to the dismay of the Yemeni camp, the ball came off the post.