East Bengal FC returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Kerala Blasters in an I-League match on Friday. It was the Red and Gold Brigade’s first victory in five matches, having last won 1-0 against Jamshedpur FC on 21 December. Advantage in the second half. Danish Farooq got Kerala Blasters back into the game with a late goal but in the end, it was just a consolation. With this win, the Red and Golds also snapped a three-game losing streak in the current campaign.
The visitors had the lion’s share of possession in the game’s initial exchanges while the Red and Golds waited for their chance to pounce on the counter-attack.
The Scoopers were largely one-dimensional with their reliance on Noah Sadaowe on the right flank and the hosts capitalized on this pattern.
The first chance of the game fell to Dimitrios Diamantakos in the 15th minute when Norm Mahesh Singh recycled possession and began a counter-attack. Diamantakos fired into space but Sachin Suresh kept the Greek striker’s effort on target.
Minutes later, Sachin was indecisive with Barry from Cleiton Silva’s direct freekick on goal. Richard Seles closed in on the loose ball, but didn’t have enough room to blast it home. With these attacks, the hosts were gradually gaining momentum.
Oscar Brozon’s men were rewarded in the 20th minute when he found Cleiton Vishnu with a wonderful long ball down the right flank.
The youngster zoomed across his mark before tackling the ball over Sachin, who ran out of his lines. The ball tumbled on the goal line as Kuro Singh failed to clear the danger.
After taking the lead, East Bengal FC were the better team as they created some good openings. They almost doubled the lead when Diamantakos slipped the ball back to Cleiton in the box before the Brazilian forced Sachin to come up with a brilliant save.
The hosts almost had a second goal when Seles decided to pull the trigger from long range. However, his effort hit the post on his way out.
This was the first of nine matches in which East Bengal Nuru finished at half-time with a lead in this contest. They last made a lead at the North East end in November.
Kerala Blasters looked like an improved side as they started the second half with great intent. Noah coordinated most of their moves as they continued to push for an equaliser.
In the 58th minute, Kwame Peprah was introduced to add further momentum to the attack as Milos Drincic cut the way for him.
Noah almost found an equalizer for the visitors when he broke through the entire East Bengal back line.
However, Lalchungnunga ultimately blocked the Moroccan effort. Meanwhile, Lalthanmawia Renthlei entered the field to replace Korou.
In the 72nd minute, the hosts secured the goal when Al Hajazi rose highest from a corner delivery by Mahesh and headed home. He was completely undistinguished and took full advantage, scoring his second goal of the current campaign.
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