The nine-man East Bengal may not have secured their first win of the Indian Super League 2024-25 season tonight (November 9, Saturday) at Salt Lake Stadium, but their 0-0 draw against Mohammedan Sporting earned them a hard-fought point. Despite the bruises and exhaustion, they can wake up tomorrow knowing they gave it their all in a battle worthy of respect. (Match Highlights)
Bravery is one word to sum up East Bengal’s performance in the Kolkata Derby. Despite the chaos of two red cards in quick succession, sending off Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh early in the 30th minute, the hosts fought valiantly.
A slow game sparked thrill early in the 6th minute when the Red & Gold Brigade's goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy made a vital clearance, intercepting a back pass intended for Nandhakumar Sekar and preventing a dangerous chance for Mohammedan.
In pursuit of their first win of the ISL 2024-25 season, East Bengal's fight took an early hit when Naorem Mahesh Singh, in a desperate bid to halt the counter, was shown a yellow card in the 7th minute for fouling Franca.
However, the real drama erupted in the 27th minute when Nandhakumar Sekar saw yellow for an elbow to Amarjit Singh Kiyam. After a quick consultation with his assistants, the referee upgraded the earlier yellow to a red, leaving East Bengal down to just 10 men. This left the home crowd, the Red and Gold Brigades, and the new coach Oscar Bruzon in anger.
But, the situation only worsened in the 28th minute when Naorem Mahesh, in frustration, kicked the ball away after the whistle and was shown a second yellow card, resulting in his red card. Now, East Bengal were reduced to 9 players on the field, and Mohammedan Sporting were in the ascendancy.
Mohammedan Sporting dominated possession with 75% throughout the match, registering 21 shots, 5 of which were on target. However, they couldn't break down East Bengal’s resilient defense, who, despite holding just 25% possession, managed only 6 shots, with just one on target.
The 90+10 minutes game witnessed Alexis Gomez and Franca's dangerous footwork, creating opportunities on the left, but each cross was either cleared away or denied by EB goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, who produced several key saves.
The match, which stretched into an intense 90+10 minutes, saw dangerous runs from Alexis Gomez and Carlos Franca on the left, creating multiple opportunities. However, every cross was either cleared or expertly denied by East Bengal's goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, who made several series of crucial stops to deny the Black Panthers second win of the season.
As the second half unfolded, Mohammedan Sporting maintained their dominance, but East Bengal, displayed incredible courage, fighting back like a wounded lion.
In the 68th minute, the deadlock was nearly broken when Zodingliana Ralte had a golden opportunity to score with a volley, but his shot sailed over the bar.
Throughout the match, East Bengal’s defense was rock-solid, with key players like Hijazi Maher, Mohammed Rakip, and Lalchungnunga stepping up with crucial blocks and tackles, each playing a pivotal role in preserving the clean sheet. However, the Red & Gold Brigades could not end their 6, (now 7) match winless streak.
The result leaves no change in the standing with East Bengal still residing in 13th place with 1 point (6 defeat and one draw), while Mohammedan Sporting sitting on 12th with 5 points (with one win, two draw and four losses).
East Bengal will next host NorthEast United on November 29, while Mohammedan Sporting will welcome table-toppers Bengaluru FC on November 27
