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Mahesh Naorem, Saul Crespo and David Lalhlansanga helped East Bengal FC beat Mohammedan SC 3-1 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League.
ISL 2024-25: East Bengal FC 3-1 Mohammedan SC. (X)
East Bengal FC defeated Mohammedan SC 3-1 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.
Mahesh Naorem, Saul Crespo and David Lalhlansanga helped the ‘Red and Gold’ brigade register their first win in a Kolkata derby.
The first chance fell to East Bengal as Anwar Ali’s header from a Mahesh Naorem sailed just over and wide enough of the top corner. Minutes later, PV Vishnu’s erratic shot despite being in a good position, did not trouble the keeper.
Mohammedan too have their fair share of opportunities to score. Carlos Franca’s left-footed strike was off-target. In the 9th minute, Manvir Singh failed to get a touch on telling cross the Brazilian forward.
It was then turn for East Bengal to try their luck. Dimitrios Diamantakos and Messi Bouli had space to run into but Florent Oger did well to stop both.
In the 18th minute, Diamantakos could have done better with a decent cross in from Messi off the left but his touch of flair with an attempted flick meant the effort bounced on the wrong side of the upright.
Nishu Kumar’s corner struck the crossbar, Messi and Diamantakos came close but it was the man who had lost his cool in the reverse fixture who handed the ‘Red and Gold’ brigade the lead in the 27th minute. Mahesh blasted his shot past Padam Chhetri at the near post after being slipped in behind by Vishnu.
Marc Schmerbock could have got the ‘Black Panthers’ back in the game inside 5 minutes but his shot was straight at Prabhsukhan Gill, who calmly parried away the shot.
Messi Bouli looked lively on his first start for East Bengal and looked by far the best forward for the Kolkata side so far this season. From tracking back to running the channels in behind the defence. He had chances too but couldn’t keep his effort on target.
There were nervy moments too for East Bengal when Gill and Hector Yuste had a lapse in communication as the goalkeeper rushed well out this penalty box to clear a ball.
With the game winding down at the end of the first half, Larinfela Khiangte found himself in the referee’s book for kicking the ball after the referee had blown his whistle.
The game had been turning ugly and after the restart, challenges from either team grew firmer.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo was the first to pull the trigger on a change as Schmerbock made way for Robi Hansda just before the hour mark. Oscar Bruzon too as Saul Crespo replaced Nandha Kumar.
Mahesh almost doubled his tally on the night after Diamantakos somehow managed to bring down Messi’s deflected cross but his acrobatic side-volley was parried away by the Mohammedan keeper.
In the 65th minute, Mafela gave away possession in a dangerous position as Messi slipped in Crespo, who masterfully past Padam Chhetri.
The two-goal lead did not stay long as the other substitute Robi found Franca with a pin-point pass with the outside of the boot pass in the 68th minute. Franca finally scored his first goal in the ISL.
Mohammedan almost brought parity to the scoreline when Alexis Gomes was stopped by Prabhsukhan but the ball was not cleared. Robi snuck in but his shot hit the crossbar as the rebound went to Remsanga but his effort was somehow kept out by Anwar at the near post.
There was more drama left for Prabhsukhan after he was ordered off by Bruzon and replaced by Dabjit Majumder and he was not happy as he lashed out by kicking the corner flag and jeered up the opposition fans on his way back.
The telling blow came from ex-Mohammedan star David Lalhlansanga who blasted the ball into the back of the net on the turn and immediately raised up both hands in apology to the home fans. His teammates, especially Prabhsukhan, enjoyed the goal as the East Bengal dugout celebrated.
- Location :
Kolkata [Calcutta], India, India
