Kolkata, January 24: East Bengal FC finally returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. This marked the Red & Gold Brigade’s first win in five games, their last victory being a 1-0 triumph over Jamshedpur FC on December 21.
A spectacular first-half goal from PV Vishnu gave the hosts a crucial lead, while Hijazi Maher doubled the advantage in the second half. Despite a late strike from Danish Farooq for Kerala Blasters FC, East Bengal FC held on to claim all three points and snap their three-game losing streak.
First Half: East Bengal FC Takes Control.
The game began with Kerala Blasters FC dominating possession, while East Bengal FC adopted a counter-attacking strategy. Kerala heavily relied on Noah Sadaoui’s creativity on the right flank, but East Bengal FC effectively neutralized this approach.
The first chance of the match came in the 15th minute when Naorem Mahesh Singh initiated a quick counter-attack, setting up Dimitrios Diamantakos. However, Kerala goalkeeper Sachin Suresh made a crucial save to deny the Greek striker. Moments later, Sachin made an indecisive parry from Cleiton Silva’s freekick, but Richard Celis was unable to capitalize on the loose ball.
East Bengal FC’s persistence paid off in the 20th minute. A sublime long ball from Cleiton found Vishnu on the right flank. The young forward outpaced his marker and calmly chipped the ball over Sachin, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. Korou Singh’s attempted clearance was in vain as the ball crossed the goal line.
Building on their momentum, East Bengal FC nearly doubled their lead when Diamantakos set up Cleiton in the box, forcing Sachin into another fine save. Celis also came close, striking the post with a long-range effort. This was the first time in nine matches that East Bengal FC entered half-time with a lead, their last such occasion being against NorthEast United FC in November.
Second Half: Goals and Late Drama
Kerala Blasters FC returned with renewed intent after the break, orchestrating several moves through Noah Sadaoui. Despite their efforts, East Bengal’s defence, led by Lalchungnunga, stood firm. In the 58th minute, Kerala introduced Kwame Peprah to bolster their attack, replacing Milos Drincic.
Noah came close to equalizing after weaving through East Bengal’s defence, but Lalchungnunga’s crucial block denied him. Meanwhile, East Bengal made a substitution, bringing on Lalthanmawia Renthlei for Korou.
In the 72nd minute, East Bengal extended their lead. Hijazi Maher, left unmarked during a corner delivered by Mahesh, rose high to head the ball into the net. This marked his second goal of the season and provided the hosts with a much-needed cushion.
Kerala Blasters FC increased the intensity, pushing for a comeback. Their efforts bore fruit in the 84th minute when substitute Danish Farooq scored. The midfielder latched onto a cleared ball from Hijazi and slotted it into the bottom right corner, reigniting hope for the visitors.
Despite Kerala’s late surge, East Bengal’s defence remained resolute. Cleiton Silva nearly sealed the win with a close-range effort after a cross from Mahesh but failed to hit the target. Oscar Bruzon’s side brought on Hector Yuste to shore up the defence in the final moments, ensuring they held on for a vital victory.
Key Performer: Lalchungnunga.
The standout performer of the match was East Bengal FC defender Lalchungnunga. The young centre-back delivered an exceptional performance, neutralizing the threat posed by Noah Sadaoui and other Kerala attackers. His timely blocks and defensive awareness were crucial in securing the win. Lalchungnunga registered two vital clearances and completed 14 of his 22 attempted passes, cementing his role as a key player in the backline.
Match highlights East Bengal FC vs Kerala Blasters FC
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