Super Cup 2018: East Bengal ride on Dudu Omegbemi's strike against FC Goa to enter final

Bhubaneswar: Dudu Omegbemi struck the match’s only goal as East Bengal recorded a 1-0 win over FC Goa to make the final of the inaugural Super Cup in Bhubaneswar on Monday. After a goalless first half, Nigerian striker Dudu broke the deadlock in 78th minute at the Kalinga Stadium. [caption id=“attachment_4434135” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] East Bengal’s Dudu Omegbemi (R) in action against FC Goa in the Super Cup semi-final. Twitter/@IndianFootball[/caption] East Bengal now await the winners of the second semi-final between Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC. The Kolkata side’s coach Khalid Jamil went in with a 4-5-1 combination with Dudu the lone striker upfront and Ugandan Khalid Aucho getting his first start in midfield. FC Goa’s coach Derick Pereira fielded a 4-4-2 with Manvir Singh partnering Spaniard Ferran Corominas in attack. It was a scrappy first-half which ended goalless. East Bengal had the better chances with Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al Amna missing the first real chance in the 19th minute, when he failed to tap in a cross from inside the box by Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa. Dudu broke free from an Al Amna flicked header a minute later but with just the Goa keeper Kattimani to beat, hit straight at him. Katsumi then missed two gilt-edged chances between the 33rd and 35th minutes and Goa got their best chance through Corominas in added time, when his solo run found him in front of East Bengal goalie Ubaid, but he could not convert. The half was highlighted by as many as four bookings, equally shared by both sides. Seriton and Edu Bedia went into referee Santhosh Bhaskaran’s book for Goa while Cavin Lobo and Gurwinder Singh received yellow cards for East Bengal. The Kolkata team continued to press hard for a goal in the second half and Dudu and Katsumi missed at least three golden opportunities to score between them, the Nigerian being the more profligate. The deadlock was finally broken when another quality cross from the left flank by Katsumi found Dudu, who tapped in past Kattimani. While Samad Ali Mallik became the third East Bengal player to be booked, FC Goa captain Bedia picked up his second yellow of the game for a lunge at substitute Kromah, who had come in for Dudu and Goa had to finish the game with 10-men.