Kolkata, March 2: East Bengal FC hosted Bengaluru FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan tonight and, despite displaying a hard-fought performance, failed to protect their lead, resulting in a 1-1 draw at the last moment.In this vital fixture, East Bengal FC needed a win to keep their top-six dreams alive, but this result dealt a major blow to their hopes.
As the ball started rolling, East Bengal FC began displaying attacking football. In the 6th minute, Diamantakos, from the right inside of the box, cut past his marker and placed a shot, which Gurpreet punched out. In the 10th minute, Saul Crespo played a ball down the flank to Diamantakos, who made a long run and sent a pass to Vishnu, but his shot went over the crossbar.
However, in the 11th minute, Messi Bouli’s stunning strike put the Red and Gold Brigade in the lead. Crespo received a through ball at the edge of the box, went down, but managed to keep possession and get back on his feet before passing it to Messi, who fired the shot into the net.
In the 14th minute, Bengaluru launched an effective goal-bound move. A cross floated in from the right into the box, where Sunil Chhetri attempted a header, but the keeper saved it. However, the ball fell to Roshan on the left inside of the box, but his shot was also saved.
In the 26th minute, East Bengal FC found the net, but the goal was ruled out due to offside. In the 30th minute, Oscar was forced to make a change as Anwar Ali was unable to continue the game. Jeakson replaced him on the field. In the additional time of the first half, Diamantakos was sent off as he made illegal contact with Noguera without the ball.
In the 61st minute, Crespo earned a free kick. He took the shot, but it deflected off the wall and fell to Souvik Chakraborty on the right. Souvik unleashed a stunning long-range shot, but the Bengaluru FC keeper made the save. In the 73rd minute, Bengaluru got a chance. From the left, Roshan delivered a ball into the box, where Mendez attempted a first-time shot, but it went over the bar.
In the 76th minute, inside East Bengal FC’s box, amidst the gatherings, Bengaluru attempted back-to-back shots, but the ball was initially deflected. However, from the clearance, East Bengal FC launched a quick counterattack. David passed the ball to Naorem, who made a run down the left flank and then played it back to David. As he entered the box, he unleashed a shot, but Gurpreet closed down the angle and made the save.
In the last minute of regulation time, the momentum shifted as Nishu Kumar committed a handball inside the box, awarding Bengaluru FC a penalty. Sunil Chhetri converted it into the Blues’ equalizer, snatching a point from the hosts.
That result takes Bengaluru FC’s points total to 38 from 23 matches, 3rd in the points table. East Bengal remains 8th with 28 points from the same number of matches. Both teams have one more match left in this edition of the Indian Super League.
NEXT FIXTURES: East Bengal will travel to Shillong for their last fixtures against Northeast United FC, on march 8. Bengaluru FC will host their last fixtures against Mumbai City FC, on March 11.
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