CHENNAI: It wasn’t another fairytale day for Services as Bengal drubbed them 2-0 and fixed their spot in the final on Wednesday.
Thereby, they avenged last edition’s humiliating semifinal loss to Services. The ferocity of the revenge couldn’t have been meted out but for Gouranga Biswas’s blinder in the 65th minute, which assured victory for Bengal.
The preconditions made it all the more endearing. Bengal centre-backs SK Azim and Safar Sardar fouled Services skipper Shaji D’Silva inside the box.
The referee awarded an indirect free-kick despite Services’ rancour for a penalty. Gordon Zoramchhana’s attempt at goal was barricaded by the wall and Bengal counter attacked. Receiving the ball a few yards from the half-line, Biswas deceived the goalkeeper with a brisk turn and finished it clinically.
His first goal, though, was courtesy Lalam Puia. The rotund Mohun Bagan striker’s power-laden shot whizzed off Biswas’s head past the wrong-footed Services custodian VV Sujan Suku. The goalie couldn’t be blamed as he seemed to cover the angle of Puia’s shot, but the deflection had enough meat to catch him unaware.
Buoyed by the goal, Bengal rampaged forth and could have augmented the lead. Denson Devdas shot was just a few yards away from the post while Puia had time and space to find the target off a brisk pass from Snehashish Chakraborthy, but Puia’s clumsy touch undid the good work.
A minute later, Puia couldn’t again latch onto a promising cross from Devdas.
Services’ best chance came in the 29th minute, from the unlikely quarter of right-back Lal Routhella.
His looping volley, from 40 yards, was a spectacle but Subashish Roy Choudhary palmed it off, albeit with some discomfiture. It was nothing but anticipation and experience that stood beside India’s second choice goalkeeper.
Ironically, last edition’s top goal-scorer Raleng was literally inconspicuous. But it wasn’t sportsmanship for Bengal players to feign injuries and fall like reeds on a hurricane, They didn’t require such theatrics to win on Wednesday.
Bengal 2 (Gouranga Biswas 35, 65) beat Services 0 .