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Dimitrios Diamantakos scored the only goal of the match as East Bengal FC defeated Jamshedpur FC 1-0 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League.
ISL 2024-25: East Bengal FC beat Jamshedpur FC. (X)
East Bengal FC defeated Jamshedpur FC in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Dimitrios Diamantakos scored the only goal of the match as torchbearers ended the year with a win.
The game got off to a haphazard start with end-to-end action. East Bengal though managed to get the first real chance of the game.
A throw-in from Lalchungnunga off the left was touched goal ward by Cleiton Silva as Albino Gomes got down low to his right in the seventh minute. As the ball circulated back for Anwar Ali at the edge of the penalty box, the defender-turned-midfielder tried his luck. His left-footed strike rattled the upright but ricocheted out.
Javi Siverio looked the liveliest for Jamshedpur, getting in behind East Bengal’s high line. Long ball and through ball did the trick for the visitors but Prabhsukhan Singh Gill did well to thwart the Spaniard’s efforts.
Oscar Bruzon and Khalid Jamil both made changes. In the 16th minute, Mohamad Rakip went down holding his strapped leg as Jeakson Singh replaced him for East Bengal. Sourav Das, who was on a yellow card for a challenge on PV Vishnu, was brought off for Pranoy Halder come the 21st. His first touch was a hack on Diamantakos and was promptly booked by the referee.
Nandhakumar Sekar had a golden chance to score in the 37th as a brilliant cutback from Cleiton saw him one-on-one with just the keeper. He ended up sending his shot straight to Albino.
In the 40th minute, Diamantakos was fouled as Cleiton stepped up for the free-kick. He tried to surprise Albino with a low shot at the near post from the right wing but the Jamshedpur keeper did well to go down swiftly and palm it away.
With the half drawing close, East Bengal had another chance to take the lead but too many touches in the box meant the game was goalless at the break.
Mobashir Rahman replaced Pronay Halder by Jamil at the restart. East Bengal squandered yet again in the ascendancy as Nandhakumar, in the 57th minute, was on a breakaway with numbers advantage and acres of space ahead of him. He opted to pass it on for Diamantakos, who cut back onto his stronger foot but his shot went harmlessly wide.
Minutes later, East Bengal’s perseverance paid off. Nandhakumar got a ball from Hector Yuste as he played in to the feet of Cleiton, who passed it back to the Indian winger. He looked up and sent in a dangerous cross from the right as Vishnu tried a flick but missed it completely. Dimitrios was lurking at the far post and thundered East Bengal ahead at the hour mark.
More substitutions followed as Nikhil Barla and Jordan Murray replaced Mohammed Sanan and Rei Tachikawa. Dimitrios Diamantakos was brought off for David Lalhlansanga.
Vishnu almost scored another in the 68th as he cut in from the left wing, got past a couple of defenders but slipped at the point of striking his shot as his effort hit the woodwork and bounced safely out.
With the clock ticking away, Jamil brought on Seiminlen Doungel for Imran Khan and Bruzon responded by bringing on Naorem Mahesh Singh in place of Nandhakumar.
A one-goal lead made it a long night for East Bengal and owing to the Winter Solstice it indeed was the longest night of the year. There were plenty of scares, yet the torchbearers held on for the win and the light burned bright at the Salt Lake.
