East Bengal suffer stunning defeat

East Bengal's hopes of consolidating their position atop the points table received a major setback when they suffered a stunning solitary goal defeat against local challengers Tollygunge Aggragami in the National Football League, at the Salt Lake stadium, in Calcutta, on Friday.

Tollygunge striker Emeka Achilefu produced the match-winner early in the contest to seal the fate of East Bengal, who failed to play to their full potential.

Desperately looking for their maiden league title, East Bengal have themselves to blame for pouring cold water on their aspirations. They failed to lift their game and frittered away quite a few gilt-edged opportunities.

With the league entering the last stages, the defeat against lowly Tollygunge Aggragami will surely put pressure on the leaders in the subsequent matches.

East Bengal have 38 points after their 18th encounter and are ahead of arch rivals Mohun Bagan, who are second on the points table, by just three points.

Tollygunge, clearly the underdogs in the match, shot into the lead as early as the 13th minute when Emeka found the target with a lovely header, giving no chance at all to the East Bengal custodian.

The lone goal was the result of a fast counter attack, which saw hard-working medio Sashti Duley cross from the left flank to Emeka, whose header hit the crosspiece. Off the rebound, an alert Emeka headed the ball in.