Ancheri takes East Bengal into final

A fine brace by Jo Paul Ancheri gave East Bengal a 2-1 victory over arch rivals Mohun Bangan and a place in the final of the IFA Shield football tournament in Calcutta on Saturday.

The winners take on Brazilian club Palmeiras in the final on Sunday.

Jose Ramirez Barreto accounted for Bagan's goal.

The 70,000 spectators at the Salt Lake stadium had their money's worth and relished every minute of the fast-paced encounter, the 250th between the Calcutta giants.

East Bengal, who dominated the proceedings in the opening half, went ahead in the 23rd minute as Ancheri latched on to a Dipankar Roy pass and placed home from an acute angle to the left of Bagan goalkeeper Bivas Ghosh.

Bagan showed greater zeal in the second half, but time and again failed to pierce the rocklike East Bengal defence.

The green and maroon brigade finally got the breakthrough in the 75th minute, when a Renedy Singh flag kick was fisted by East Bengal custodian Hemanta Dora. The ball flew only as far as Barreto, standing close by, and the Brazilian headed home.

But Ancheri scored a beauty of a goal only five minutes later to seal the fate of the match.

Following a Musah throw, Omoloja Olalekan brought the ball down, and Ancheri let loose a powerful left footer with a quick turn to find the net.

The match witnessed frayed tempers towards the close and Barreto and East Bengal substitute linkman Chandan Das were marched out by referee S M Balu in the 86th minute for engaging in an off-the-ball scuffle.