East Bengal FC secured a narrow victory over Jamshedpur FC with a score of 1-0 during their Indian Super League (ISL) clash held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on December 21, 2024. The lone goal of the match was scored by Dimitrios Diamantakos, who found the back of the net in the 60th minute with precise assistance from teammate Nandhakumar Sekar.
The beginning of the match showcased Jamshedpur FC's determination, as they created early chances and demonstrated resilience on defense. Their first significant opportunity arose just nine minutes in, when Stephen Eze delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Javier Siverio. Unfortunately for the Red Miners, Siverio's shot hit the side netting, foreshadowing the struggles the team would face throughout the game. Despite some promising buildup play, they found it difficult to convert their opportunities.
The opening half saw end-to-end action, but the score remained goalless at halftime. Both teams exchanged chances, with Jamshedpur's Albino Gomes pulling off numerous saves, including efforts to deny Cleiton Silva and thwarting Anwar Ali's powerful long-range strike, which crashed against the post. The Match officials signaled the end of the first half with the score still tied at 0-0, prompting both coaches to reassess their strategies during the interval.
After the break, Jamshedpur FC aggressively pursued the opening goal. Nonetheless, it was East Bengal who made the breakthrough. The 60th minute saw Dimitrios Diamantakos expertly tap the ball home, capitalizing on Nandhakumar Sekar's sharp cross. This goal marked the turning point of the match and served as the catalyst for East Bengal's pursuit of their fourth win in the last five matches.
Jamshedpur, now trailing, threw everything they could forward, introducing fresh legs such as Jordan Murray and Nikhil Barla to inject new attacking energy. The substitutes brought some spark to the game, but East Bengal’s defense stood firm, successfully thwarting every attack. Notably, the home team nearly doubled their lead when Vishnu PV embarked on a stunning solo run, but his effort hit the inside of the post before rolling harmlessly away.
Despite Jamshedpur FC’s attempts to find the equalizer, which included numerous free kicks and corner opportunities, they were unable to breach East Bengal’s resolute defense. This stubbornness left Jamshedpur feeling frustrated and disappointed at full time, as the match concluded with the scoreline unchanged at 1-0.
The outcome was particularly disappointing for Jamshedpur FC, who aimed to break back among the top four teams of the league. With the victory, East Bengal climbed to 10th position on the league standings, now accruing 13 points from 12 matches, whereas Jamshedpur remained 7th with 18 points from 11 fixtures. Following this match, East Bengal FC will prepare to face Hyderabad FC on December 28, whereas Jamshedpur FC's next challenge will be against Kerala Blasters FC at home on December 29.
This victory marks the resurgence of East Bengal FC under the management of Oscar Bruzon, showcasing their commitment to improvement as they push forward this season.
