Jammeh scores first goal in AFC Cup

Gambia international defender Abdou “Tea Boy” Jammeh helped Kazma SC move to the top of Group B on goal difference after the Kuwaiti side coasted to a 3-0 victory over India’s East Bengal in an AFC Cup match at the Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium in Kuwait on Tuesday.

The I-League side managed to keep their hosts at bay for most of the first half but goals by Yousef Naser Al Sulaiman and Naser Al Wohaib in the final seven minutes of the half finally broke their resistance.

Striker Naser put the Emir Cup holders ahead in the 38th minute with a powerfully-struck free kick from 30 metres which sailed past East Bengal goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into the left corner of the net.

Defender Al Wohaid then struck a minute before half-time when he turned a cross from the right into the net from close range and Gambian defender Abdou Jammeh completed the rout in the 58th minute when he headed a cross from the left past Singh from close range.

Kazma coach Milan Máčala was pleased with his side’s performance and felt that the result was richly deserved. “We achieved what we wanted as we got the three points and now we are at the top of the group,” said the veteran Czech coach.

“We focused on free-kicks in our last training session and I told the players that it would be the key for our win. We managed to score three goals tonight and this is good for us. But our target is not only to win one or two matches because we are looking forward to going as far as we can in the competition.”

East Bengal coach Trevor James Morgan felt that the opening goal was crucial to the final result. “We had a good game although we conceded three goals,” said the Englishman. “The free kick that Kazma scored from was the turning point in the game as it gave them the chance to control the proceedings and it affected our players but I thought that we put in a good performance and showed our fighting spirit throughout the match.”

For the Gambian defender, he was very happy to have scored his first goal in the competition and used posted on his official Facebook profile, “Won 3-0 against East Bengal Asian Cup second game..., scored my first goal in the tournament!!!! Alhamdulillah”

Tea Boy and his Kazma have hence climbed to the top of the group table as they pip Yemenese side Al Arouba, who drew with Arbil of Iraq in their second round match, on goal difference and they face the Yemenese side next on April 4th.