East Bengal registered their second straight win of the Kolkata Super League defeating a plucky George Telegraph 2-0 in a match when they sorely missed the services of a quality striker.

Bijen Singh was the villain and hero of the game. Donning the East Bengal colours for the first time in the season he missed a penalty within three minutes of taking to the ground but made amends later when he scored twice setting up the champion club for the Sunday's derby game.

Forty minutes into play Alvitio D'Cunha, the creative midfielder and and tireless foot on the ground, again sent a measured cross into the box which Anieta connected with a back header. However, the goal bound ball was handled by a Telegraph defender and referee Gautam Sadhukhan pointed to the dreaded spot.

Inexplicably Bijen, who had substituted Nitin Pradhan a few minutes back, walked to take the spot kick and as expected his weak grounder hit the upright before going out.

The red-golds had to wait for 30 minutes into the second half for their first goal. Alvito D'Cunha collecting the ball near the rival box sent a neat minus. Climax Lawrence, who is looking better with each match, sold a dummy allowing the ball to travel to the far post where Bijen Singh was lurking. The striker made no mistake this time slotting the ball home.

Within 10 minutes East Bengal found their second goal and it was the Alvito-Climax orchestra that was again playing to the tune. A pass from Alvito saw Climax lob the ball past an advancing Ganesh Singh for Bijen Singh to finish the job.

Earlier, East Bengal went into attack right from the opening minute and Sasthy Duley's power packed volley was kept out of the harm's way George keeper Ganesh Singh. 31 minutes into the first half a Selwin Fernandez cross saw Anieta head into the side netting from shake-hands distance. Malswama's minus, that saw the entire George defense stranded, found no colleague at the receiving end.

Besides this eight corners and all nine Telegraph men defending on all four showed how one-sided the match was. But the goal would not come. Then Bijen's missed penalty increased the pressure on the boys and frustration among the supporters.

The second half saw East Bengal go into overdrive. Four corners and a few more missed chances made it look that the goal would not come. Alvito minus found Climax Lawrence within three meters of the goal, the Goan shot wide. Again Alvito send a cross from a free kick that fell on a platter before Bijen but he failed to head home. Just when things were looking like going out of hands the first goal came.

Alvito D'Cunha looks to have struck a purple patch holding the red-gold midfield together. Climax Lawrence and Selwin Fernandes also had quality outings.