East Bengal preserved its profitable type on the expense of Bengaluru FC, which it beat 2-1 in a matchweek-21 fixture of ISL 2023-24 season on the Salt Lake Stadium right here on Sunday.
Saul Crespo acquired the lead from the penalty spot within the first half, whereas Cleiton Silva produced a late winner within the second half for East Bengal. Sunil Chhetri, who got here in as a second-half substitute, scored the one Bengaluru purpose from the spot.
Having crushed Kerala Blasters in its earlier outing, East Bengal reached 24 factors from 21 matches to climb to the sixth spot, dislodging Chennaiyin FC (additionally on 24 from 20 matches) on a greater purpose common. Bengaluru, which stayed on 22 from 21, noticed its playoff probabilities evaporating after the loss.
AS IT HAPPENED: East Bengal vs Bengaluru FC highlights
Bengaluru put in additional arduous work, however East Bengal loved the benefit by discovering the one purpose of the opening half. The dwelling facet discovered the lead off a Nineteenth-minute penalty conversion after Bengaluru defender Lalremtluanga Fanai tackled the East Bengal winger Mahesh Singh from behind inside his personal field. Crespo got here as much as rating from the spot, and East Bengal maintained the lead until half-time because it succeeded in denying the Blues some good scoring probabilities.
Bengaluru, which loved 55 per cent ball possession, acquired the primary probability within the eleventh minute when Sivasakthi virtually transformed from a Fanai help, however East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill acquired his face in the way in which to deflect the ball out of hurt’s approach.
Red and Gold captain Cleiton miscued a straight-forward try from contained in the Bengaluru field within the twenty ninth minute to let go a transparent probability of doubling the lead. Bengaluru had its second clear alternative in injury-time (45+2 minute), however its Danish ahead Oliver Drost failed to achieve a cut-back from the Spanish playmaker Javi Hernandes, who created an open probability along with his effort.
Bengaluru scored the equaliser from a penalty on the hour mark, which it earned because of some good work within the East Bengal field by Chhetri. The Indian captain put the East Bengal defence beneath stress along with his intelligent runs and created the penalty, getting the East Bengal defender Harmanjot Khabra to deal with considered one of his sharp crosses. Chhetri scored from the spot to get his 61st ISL purpose.
However, Chhetri’s equaliser went in useless as Cleiton nodded dwelling an inch-perfect cross from Nishu within the 73rd minute to safe the factors for Carles Cuadrat’s males.
With the crew spirit sagging after the equaliser, East Bengal head coach Cuadrat launched younger Aman C.V., who infused the tempo within the East Bengal assaults and launched Nishu Kumar on the left to drift the cross for Silva to complete.
On the opposite hand Bengaluru was unfortunate in not getting the equaliser within the eighty fifth minute when its younger substitute Monirul Molla outran the East Bengal defence to try a cracking shot. But Prabhsukhan Gill got here in the way in which once more to provide an enormous save and protect his crew’s lead.
