Hero I-league: Esqueda double helps East Bengal beat Neroca

IMPHAL: East Bengal rode on Mexican recruit Enrique Esqueda’s brace to beat hosts Neroca FC 2-0 in an I-league game at the Khuman Lampak stadium here on Saturday.

Neroca dominated possession but their opponents looked always in control particularly with Esqueda’s early strike in the 10th minute of the match to get them on their way.

Esqueda doubled the lead through a penalty in early second-half to seal the deal for the Kolkata giants.

The game between the fourth-placed Kolkata side and second-placed Neroca from last year’s edition, gave enough evidence of the quality the two sides possess but the day belonged to East Bengal, who logged full points on what would have been a satisfactory display for newly appointed Spanish coach Alejandro Menendez Garcia.

The home team incidentally also had a new Spanish coach and Manuel Fraile opted to start with a flat 4-4-2 formation as was expected.

With the hosts down early, the otherwise quality game saw some needless frayed tempers through the game.

Katsumi was clearly the target of some needle and in all three players including Eduardo Ferriera, Singham Subash and Manoj got themselves booked in the three flare-ups which happened across the two-halves.

The home team lost Katsumi to injury just before the end of the first half to further dent their plans. Neroca had the lion’s share of possession through the game but could not create enough clear chances.

Midfielder Malemngamba Meetei was guilty of missing their best chance in the 25th minute when off a wonderful ball by Katsumi Yusa out to the left flank, Singham Subash floated a cross which Rakshit Dagar in East Bengal goal made heavy weather of.

Malemn on the rebound with the goalkeeper down

and out, essayed a feeble effort which was saved on the goaline by Yami Longwah. East Bengal were clearly looking happy to sit back on the lead however, the threat of Esqueda kept rearing itself up when in the 42nd minute he found Yami in the clear inside the box with a delectable lob, but the youngster could not reap rewards.