ISL 2024-25: East Bengal hammers Punjab FC 3-1 to keep playoff hopes alive

East Bengal maintained its newfound form by thumping Punjab FC 3-1 in its Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday.

Dimitrios Diamantakos (15th minute) set the tone for the visitors with an early strike before Naorem Mahesh Singh (47th) and Lalchungnunga (54th) found the back of the net.

Later, Punjab FC scored the consolation goal in the 62nd minute, courtesy of a fantastic strike from Ezequiel Vidal.

East Bengal has now been unbeaten in its last three away games this season, keeping its hopes for the playoffs alive. It is 10th in the table, with 24 points from 21 games, whereas Punjab FC dropped to 11th in the standing, with three games left to play.

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The Red-and-Gold Brigade took the lead when its Greek forward hammered a shot on goal from the left, more in hope than conviction but it went through Ravi Kumar’s legs into the goal.

Diamantakos had another opportunity to double the lead in the 44th minute when Raphael Messi Bouli found him with a low cross after beating his marker.

However, before the 31-year-old could get his shot away, Ivan Novoselec stole the ball from his path and averted the danger.

At the start of the second half, Punjab’s head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis made two attacking changes, introducing Luka Majcen and Nihal Sudeesh. But the hosts were caught ball-watching as Mahesh slotted the ball past Ravi to double the lead two minutes after the restart.

It all started from a long throw for East Bengal where Messi Bouli shrugged off his marker and released a cross to Vishnu in space. Novoselec blocked his shot but it landed kindly for Mahesh, who calmly nestled it into the back of the net.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade found the third goal from Mahesh’s corner which Ravi initially punched away but Punjab FC defenders were unable to clear their lines. Lalchungnunga then showed great awareness, finding the bottom corner with a thunderous strike.

Lalchungnunga of East Bengal FC celebrates scoring the third goal against Punjab FC in their Indian Super League match at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
FSDL/ISL Media

In the 61st minute, Punjab FC almost scored when Khaiminthang Lhungdim found Majcen with a long pass and the Slovenian headed it towards goal.

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But Prabhsukhan Gill was alert to the danger and showed great reflexes to keep out the header.

A minute later, the hosts eventually scored when a scrappy cross from the right bounced near East Bengal’s final third.It was Vidal, who reacted first and volleyed the ball into the top corner, leaving Gill and the defenders in awe.

(with inputs from PTI)