Football

East Bengal FC secured their place in the knockout stage of the AFC Challenge League 2024-25 with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nejmeh SC of Lebanon in their final Group A match. The Indian Super League side finished as group winners with seven points, having previously defeated Bashundhara Kings and drawn with Paro FC.Dimitrios Diamantakos was the hero for East Bengal, scoring a brace to lead his team to victory. The Greek striker opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Nejmeh defender Baba Musah inadvertently headed a corner kick into his own net. Diamantakos doubled East Bengal's advantage in the 15th minute, tapping home a low cross from Mahesh Naorem.Nejmeh fought back to level the match before halftime, with goals from Collins Opare and Hussein Monzer. However, East Bengal regained the lead in the 77th minute when Diamantakos converted a penalty after Madih Talal was brought down in the box.Despite Nejmeh's efforts to mount another comeback, East Bengal held on to secure the win and top spot in the group. The Indian side will now await their quarter-final opponents, which will be determined after the completion of all AFC Challenge League group stage fixtures.The victory was a significant achievement for East Bengal, who are making their debut in the AFC Challenge League. The Indian Super League outfit will be hoping to continue their impressive run in the knockout stage and make a deep run in the competition.

Odisha FC emerged victorious in their Indian Super League (ISL) clash against East Bengal FC, securing a 2-1 triumph at home. The victory marked Odisha's second win of the season, while East Bengal suffered their sixth consecutive defeat.Roy Krishna, the Fijian forward, opened the scoring for Odisha in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a through ball from Isak Vanlalruatfela. Krishna's goal was his fourth against East Bengal in the ISL.East Bengal managed to equalize in the added time of the first half through a penalty kick converted by Dimitrios Diamantakos. The penalty was awarded after Thoiba Singh handled the ball in the penalty area.In the second half, Odisha regained control of the match. Mourtada Fall, the Senegalese defender, scored the winning goal in the 69th minute, heading home a free-kick from Ahmed Jahouh.East Bengal's woes were compounded when Provat Lakra was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute. The dismissal left East Bengal with 10 men, and they were unable to recover from the setback.Odisha FC held on to their lead and secured the three points, moving up to seventh place in the ISL standings. East Bengal, on the other hand, remained rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point from seven matches.

Kwame Peprah, who had been sidelined for much of last season and overshadowed by Dimitrios Diamantakos, stole the spotlight from the ISL's top scorer last year. On Sunday, the young Ghanaian netted a late match-winner, securing a 2-1 victory for Kerala Blasters over East Bengal FC at the Nehru Stadium.Peprah entered the fray just 13 minutes earlier, replacing star forward Jesus Jimenez. The victory marked Blasters' first of the season, and the winning goal came in dramatic fashion. K.P. Rahul sent a cross from the left, and Anwar Ali appeared ready to clear the danger. However, Mohammed Aimen intercepted the ball with a clever slide and passed it to Peprah, who fired it home with a left-footed shot.P.V. Vishnu, a 22-year-old from Kasargod, had given EBFC the lead in the 59th minute. Noah Sadaoui, the recent Durand Cup's Golden Boot winner, equalized for Blasters in the 63rd minute.After a dismal season-opener against Punjab FC, Blasters coach Mikael Stahre had emphasized the need for a more attacking approach. This strategy paid off in this lively match. Despite being closely guarded, EBFC's Diamantakos remained a threat. He ran into the box and outfoxed goalkeeper Sachin Suresh with a smart cross to his right, which Vishnu tapped in neatly.However, Sadaoui was quick to level the scores. He raced in from the left, dodged a defender, and found the net with a precise shot to the far corner.The result: KBFC 2 (Sadaoui 63, Peprah 88) bt EBFC 1 (Vishnu 59).

Five years ago, Vinith Venkatesh was a mere ballboy, witnessing Bengaluru FC's Indian Super League campaign from the sidelines. On Saturday, he etched his name into the club's history, scoring the match-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over East Bengal FC.Making his debut at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the 19-year-old Venkatesh emerged as the hero. In the 25th minute, Edgar Mendez's pinpoint assist found an unmarked Venkatesh inside the box. With a deft first touch and a powerful low strike to the far post, he sent the home crowd into raptures.Senior statesman Sunil Chhetri, a veteran of Indian football, rushed to celebrate with the local lad. Venkatesh, who joined the club academy at the tender age of eight, had come full circle.The match was a scrappy affair, with nearly 12,000 spectators witnessing a physical and cynical encounter. Six players received yellow cards, while East Bengal's Lalchungnunga was sent off for a second booking. Tempers flared at times, forcing referee Crystal John to intervene.East Bengal remained in the hunt for an equalizer, pressing forward with intent. Their best chance came late when substitute Cleiton Silva fired over the crossbar from close range. In the first half, Jeakson Singh tried his luck from long range, but Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh was up to the task.Mendez, making his BFC debut, nearly got on the scoresheet with a crisp shot that narrowly missed the target. A few minutes later, Mendez and Venkatesh combined to ensure that Bengaluru FC started its ISL season on a winning note.The result: Bengaluru FC 1 (Venkatesh 25) bt East Bengal FC 0.

NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) and Shillong Lajong FC have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Durand Cup 2024 after overcoming valiant efforts from Indian Army FT and East Bengal FC, respectively.In the first quarter-final at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, NEUFC's Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez scored in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory over Indian Army FT. The Highlanders dominated the early exchanges, but the Army men absorbed the pressure and threatened on set pieces. However, Albiach broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, finishing off a long ball from Samte. Fernandez doubled the lead in the 73rd minute with a spectacular 'scorpion kick' finish.In the second quarter-final at Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong Lajong FC stunned East Bengal FC 2-1. Marcos Rudwere gave the hosts an early lead, but Nandhakumar Sekar equalized for East Bengal in the 77th minute. However, Figo Syndai scored the winning goal in the dying moments, capitalizing on an opening created by East Bengal's aggressive push for a winner.NEUFC will now face Shillong Lajong FC in the semi-finals, while the other semi-final will feature Gokulam Kerala FC and Sudeva Delhi FC. The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in Asia, and this year's edition has witnessed some exciting matches and impressive performances.

East Bengal FC's AFC Champions League campaign came to an abrupt end on Wednesday as they succumbed to a 2-3 defeat against Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage in Kolkata. The Kolkata giants will now compete in the AFC Challenge League Group Stage.Despite a promising start, East Bengal found themselves trailing 2-1 at halftime. Altyn Asyr FC, fielding a team without any foreign players, equalized through Myrat Annayev's volley in the 17th minute. Nurmyradov Selim's free-kick gave the visitors the lead 11 minutes later.East Bengal's hopes of a comeback were further dented when Mihail Titov extended Altyn Asyr FC's lead to 3-1 in the second half. Saul Crespo pulled one back for the hosts in the 59th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation.East Bengal's early exit from the AFC Champions League is a disappointment for the club and its fans. The Kolkata giants had hoped to make a deep run in the competition, but they were ultimately outplayed by a determined Altyn Asyr FC side.Altyn Asyr FC, on the other hand, will be delighted with their victory. The Turkmen champions showed great resilience and quality to overcome East Bengal's early lead and secure a place in the next round of the AFC Champions League.

East Bengal FC, a storied Indian football club, is poised to make its long-awaited return to the international stage when it hosts Turkmenistan's Altyn-Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) Preliminary 1 tie at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.After a six-year absence from continental club competitions, East Bengal is eager to qualify for the group stage of ACL Two. The Kolkata-based club has not played in any international tournament since the 2014-15 season.East Bengal will be counting on the vociferous support of its home crowd as it looks to overcome the challenge of the formidable Turkmenistani opponent. The Red and Golds will be hoping that the team will raise its performance under the guidance of Carles Cuadrat, the Spanish head coach who is rebuilding the side."Clearly we are the underdogs but we will fight and hope that the crowd helps us in our stadium," said Cuadrat. "I am a very pragmatic coach and know what I am doing. Altyn Asyr was a very tough team for us when Bengaluru FC played them in 2018. They won 5-2 against us in two legs. Plus this will be a first match for a lot of our players in an AFC competition and they have many players who have played over 20 games," he added.East Bengal, which has started the season winning both its Durand Cup group league matches, will be looking to continue the momentum against Altyn-Asyr. A win will definitely boost the Red and Golds spirit ahead of a long season.Being runners-up in the Turkmenistan Higher League in 2023, Altyn-Asyr will be looking to come up with its best and find a place in the group stage. The Turkmenistani club has a strong track record in continental competitions, having reached the AFC Cup semifinals in 2018.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with both teams eager to make a statement in the competition. East Bengal will be hoping to use its home advantage to its advantage, while Altyn-Asyr will be looking to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with.

East Bengal FC, the Kolkata-based football giants, kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over the Indian Air Force (IAF) football team at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday.Despite IAF drawing first blood through Somananda Singh's strike in the opening quarter, East Bengal fought back with determination. Young forward David Hmar equalized just before the break, restoring parity for the Red and Gold Brigade.With head coach Carles Cuadrat fielding a full-strength squad, East Bengal wasted no time in taking the lead. In the 61st minute, Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, the ISL's top scorer last season, nodded home a header to put East Bengal ahead.Captain Saul Crespo sealed the deal for East Bengal in the 68th minute with a well-taken shot. The victory marked a positive start for the Kolkata giants, who are aiming to lift the Durand Cup trophy for the first time since 2002.East Bengal's dominance was evident throughout the match. They controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. The IAF team, despite their early lead, struggled to keep up with the pace and intensity of the Red and Gold Brigade.The victory will boost East Bengal's confidence as they prepare for their upcoming matches in the Durand Cup. The tournament, one of the oldest and most prestigious football competitions in Asia, features some of the top clubs in India.East Bengal will be hoping to continue their winning ways and make a strong run in the tournament. With a talented squad and a determined coach, they have the potential to challenge for the title.

Punjab FC's impressive performance on Wednesday night at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi propelled them to a resounding 4-1 victory over East Bengal FC, effectively eliminating the Kolkata giants from the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs contention. This triumph also secured the sixth and final playoff berth for Chennaiyin FC.Despite being out of the playoff race themselves, Punjab FC showcased their attacking prowess with their famed attacking trio of Wilmar Jordan Gil, Madih Talal, and Luka Majcen all finding the back of the net. The Staikos Vergetis-coached side outplayed East Bengal FC on the flanks, delivering lethal crosses into the box that were expertly converted by their forwards.East Bengal FC, who needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, could only muster a solitary goal from Sayan Banerjee in the 25th minute. Punjab FC had already taken the lead through Gil's clinical finish, assisted by Tekcham Singh. Talal restored Punjab FC's lead before the break, capitalizing on a pass from Manglenthang Kipgen.In the second half, Gil extended Punjab FC's advantage with a composed finish, assisted by Talal. East Bengal FC's desperate search for an equalizer left gaps in their defense, which Punjab FC exploited to their advantage.The victory not only ended East Bengal FC's playoff aspirations but also highlighted the attacking capabilities of Punjab FC. Despite their early exit from the playoffs, Punjab FC can take solace in their impressive performance against a strong East Bengal FC side.