118th IFA Shield: East Bengal split points with Busan Sun Moon FC

Kolkata giants and last year’s runners-up East Bengal Club started this year’s 118th IFA Shield campaign with a hard fought 1-1 draw against Busan Sun Moon FC from South Korea at the Barasat Municipal Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The visitors started the match at a fast pace and shocked the 28 times winners East Bengal with an early goal in the 6th minute when Gim Dae Han culminated a bout of quick passing with a low strike which completely foxed East Bengal custodian Abhra Mondal. The opening session was dominated by the youthful Koreans who impressed with quick short passing and fast interchanging of positions. The red-and-golds only opportunity to equalise was wasted by Shylo Malsawm Tulunga.

East Bengal came back strongly in the second half. Head Coach Armando Colaco’s two changes in bringing on Mehtab Hossain for Ryuji Sueoka and Lalrindika Ralte for Joaquim Abranches galvanised his team into a more attacking mode. Eventually South Sudanese striker James Moga restored parity in the 78th minute when he tapped in a Chidi Edeh assist.

MATCH STATS

East Bengal Club 1-1 Busan Sun Moon FC (SOUTH KOREA) – Goals: 0-1 Gim Dae Han (6′), 1-1 James Moga (78′)

East Bengal ClubAbhra Mondal – Abhishek Das, Arnab Mondal, Raju Eknath Gaikwad, Robert Lalthalmuana – Shylo Malsawm Tulunga, Ryuji Sueoka (55′ Mehtab Hossain), Subodh Kumar (88′ Alvito D’Cunha), Joaquim Abranches (62′ Lalrindika Ralte) – Chidi Edeh, James Moga

Busan Sun Moon FCLee In Soo, Sin Hee Jae, Park Chan Min, Song in Gyo, Sim Jin Ul, Kang Seong Gu, Yan Hyeong Seop, Yeon Je Un, Kim Jong Woo, Lee Kwang Min, Gim Dae Han

RefereeM.B. Santosh Kumar (Kerala)