East Bengal FC continued their strong run of form with an impressive 3-1 victory over Punjab FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday night, marking back-to-back wins for the team.
The Red and Gold Brigade opened the scoring early, with Dimitrios Diamantakos finding the net just 15 minutes after the kick-off. The Greek striker capitalized on the Punjab defense's errors and unleashed a shot from the left, which trickled through the legs of goalkeeper Ravi Kumar.
With this strike, Diamantakos ended his goal drought, having last scored against Jamshedpur FC back in December. His first goal of this season set the stage for what would be another remarkable display from East Bengal.
Naorem Mahesh Singh doubled the lead shortly after halftime, scoring in the 47th minute. The goal came after some impressive link-up play, which began with Luka Majcen struggling to maintain possession but eventually led to Mahesh slotting the ball past Kumar.
A third goal for East Bengal arrived five minutes later, courtesy of Lalchungnunga, whose thunderous strike followed another well-executed corner kick routine. Rafael Messi Bouli played a pivotal role again, providing the assists for both Mahesh and Lalchungnunga.
Despite falling behind 3-0, Punjab FC managed to claim what would be only a consolation goal from Ezequiel Vidal, who scored with a well-placed volley from outside the box in the 62nd minute. This was the highlight of what was otherwise a disappointing night for the hosts.
Throughout the match, East Bengal FC exhibited superior control and creativity on the ball. Their left-winger, Raphael Messi Bouli, was particularly noteworthy, creating three chances and recording five crosses, showcasing his influence on the match.
Following the match, East Bengal FC now sits 10th on the league table with 24 points from 21 games played, extending their unbeaten streak to three matches. On the other hand, Punjab FC is languishing in 11th place, also on 24 points but with inferior goal difference.
Both teams now face decisive matches, with East Bengal FC welcoming Hyderabad FC on February 26 and Punjab FC hosting FC Goa on February 27. The pressure mounts for Punjab FC, which now must look to regroup and reassess their strategy moving forward.
The matchup also brought to light issues within Punjab FC's approach, particularly the decision to hold back some of their star players, which left them struggling to mount any significant challenge throughout the game.
"We need to learn from this and be aggressive from the start if we're going to turn our season around," articulated Punjab FC's coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, reflecting on the team's performance and their need for improvement.
With just three games left, both teams will be eager to maximize their potential as they chase playoff aspirations. East Bengal’s win not only boosts their morale but also keeps the hope alive for the playoffs, even if mathematically it remains challenging. While Punjab FC has shown glimpses of quality, consistency has been their biggest hurdle this season.
The Indian Super League continues to be competitive, and with teams fighting for position, both East Bengal FC and Punjab FC will have to gear up for their upcoming fixtures as the season approaches its conclusion.