Kolkata: East Bengal's new South Korean midfielder Do Dong-hyung scored from two masterly-taken free-kicks to set up a 4-0 rout of traditional rivals Mohun Bagan and secure the team's record-equalling sixth Calcutta Football League (CFL) premier division title on Sunday.
Do Dong-hyung scored in the 2nd and 38th minute of the encounter to fashion the victory. Mohammed Rafique headed in from close range eight minutes from the end of regulation time and Rahul Bheke then added another to complete the scoreline.
Mohun Bagan was reduced to 10 men after the break when their star striker Nigerian Dudu Omagbemi was evicted for two yellow-carded offences.
With the win, East Bengal amassed 25 points from nine games while Mohun Bagan remained at 11 points from seven outings. It is the second time East Bengal won the local football championship for the sixth consecutive time, having achieved it earlier between 1970-75 in their footballing heydays.
Do Dong-hyung found the net with a brilliant left footed free-kick as early as the second minute to tilt the game in his team's favour, curling the ball in past the diving hands of goalkeeper Shilton Paul with power and precision from nearly 30 yards.
Thereafter chances aroused for both teams but much of the action was restricted to the midfield zone.
At the 17th minute, Mohun Bagan's Dudu could have restored parity for his side but he missed a golden opportunity failing to head in from close range.
Mohun Bagan's other attackers, Azharuddin Mallik and Lalkamal Bhowmick tried from long distances but their efforts sailed wide.
Seven minutes from the breather, Mohun Bagan defender Sanjay Balmuchu brought down Rafique near the penalty box and it was Dong who again capitalised on it with another similar dipping vicious left-footer, much to the delight of a strong East Bengal crowd.
East Bengal preserved their lead and went into the half-time 2-0 ahead.
After the break, Mohun Bagan tried injecting some pace into their midfield by introducing Japanese medio Katsumi Yusa, but their plans failed to take off as Omagbemi was sent off in the 52nd minute.
A few minutes later the Mohun Bagan defence was thrown wide open again but a desperate Paul managed to keep the ball out. East Bengal came close a minute later but this time the attempt was cleared off the goalline by defender Balmuchu.
Mohun Bagan tried staging a comeback, but depleted and disheartened with the ouster of the star goalscorer, they neither had the might or the will to fight.
Rafique headed in a cross from the left flank eight minutes from time to bulge the scoreline 3-0.
But for Mohun Bagan the suffering was complete. Bheke put the finish touches to East Bengal's supremacy by heading in a corner from the right flank in the dying seconds of the game to complete Mohun Bagan's misery.
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