Nigerian striker George Ekeh displayed good opportunism against the run of play to help Mohan Bagan score a 1-0 victory over Chennai outfit Indian Bank in a National Football league match in Chennai on Friday.
The bankmen, who lost their last three outings, looked set to make amends for the reverses, dishing out some smart football. They created numerous chances, with Sri Lankan recruit K N Jayasuriya and Stanley Festus, their Nigerian striker, at the helm of the attack, but twice Bagan goalkeeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar showed good reflexes to prevent the ball from entering his net.
On the other hand, the visitors found difficulty in settling down and the bank defence also marked the Bagan strikers effectively.
Crossing over, the bankmen continued to enjoy supremacy but failed to score. After Jayasuriya's tailor-made cross from the right went abegging, with both Amal Raj and Mohd Qaizar failing to to connect, and Stanely Festus missing a sitter with only Dastidar to beat, Ekeh showed why he is considered among the best in the business of scoring.
In the 39th minute, he collected a pass from Amar Ganguly, covered about 20 yards, dodged past two defenders and essayed a powerful shot which grazed the palms of goalkeeper Netto before landing in the net.
