East Bengal wasted easy chances and were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Churchill Brothers, Goa, in
an Oil PSU-seventh National Football League match in Kolkata on Thursday.
The red and yellow brigade exerted pressure on the Churchill defence throughout the game and created at least three golden opportunities but Mike Okoro, Douglas Silva and Gilmar da Silva failed to find the target from close.
The Goans, who got their best chance in the 15th minute but Nascimento Silveira failed to head home a measured free-
kick by Noel Wilson, went on the defensive in the second session, trying to ensure one point from the away match, played at Salt Lake Stadium.
East Bengal, who dropped a point for the first time in their NFL campaign, lacked the thrust witnessed against Mohun Bagan and failed to capitalise on any of the eight corners they bagged before the breather.
Okoro, fed by a fine pass from Gilmar from the left, missed a sitter in the dying minutes of the first session when he had only the Churchill custodian to beat, hitting straight to an advancing Edward Ansah.
With this draw, East Bengal now have 13 points from five matches while Churchill have only four from five outings so
far.
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