A second-half strike by Kishore Mullick enabled East Bengal edge past a fighting Jagajit Cotton Textile Mills, Phawara, by a solitary goal and win the second Under-19 National Football League, at the Duler Ground, Mapusa, Goa, on Monday.
After playing second fiddle to JCT in a barren first-half, East Bengal scored the all-important goal in the 59th
minute when Ashim Sarbogya laid a pass to Kishore Mullick in the box. Mullick dribbled past defender Kuldip Singh and scored past a diving 'keeper Tarlochan Singh.
Playing an aggressive game in the first-half, JCT held the upper hand over their rivals with more of the exchanges but
were frustrated by rival 'keeper Somanth, who bought off a good save off Mandeep Kumar's attempt.
In the second-half, JCT made all out efforts in the closing stages to restore parity but found goalkeeper Somath hard to beat.
East Bengal's junior side have thus emulated their senior team by winning the title for the second time. The Kolkata club had won the first edition of the league in 2001.
East Bengal's senior side had won the National Football League in April.