East Bengal Extends Durand Cup Lead with 3-1 Victory over Downtown Heroes

Emami East Bengal FC extended its dominance atop the Durand Cup Group A standings with a convincing 3-1 victory over Downtown Heroes FC at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Wednesday. The Kolkata giants showcased their attacking prowess, while Downtown Heroes fought valiantly despite being reduced to 10 men.

Madih Talal opened the scoring for East Bengal in the 29th minute with a well-taken free-kick. However, Downtown Heroes responded swiftly, with Aafreen Basharat equalizing just a minute later. The match remained evenly poised until the 36th minute when Spanish midfielder Saul Crespo converted a penalty to restore East Bengal's lead.

The second half saw East Bengal maintain its control of the game. Substitute Jesin T.K. sealed the victory in injury time with a clinical finish, ensuring that East Bengal remained unbeaten in the tournament.

Meanwhile, in Group D, Indian Army continued its impressive run with a 3-0 triumph over Assam Rifles at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. Alan Thapa, Pradeep Singh, and Sunil B. found the back of the net for the Army, who now sit second in the group behind host Jamshedpur FC.

Tags: #DurandCup, #EmamiEastBengal, #DowntownHeroes, #IndianArmy, #AssamRifles