East Bengal maintained their newfound kind with a 3-1 thumping of Punjab FC of their Indian Super League (ISL) match on Saturday. Dimitrios Diamantakos (fifteenth minute) set the tone for the guests with an early strike earlier than Naorem Mahesh Singh (forty seventh) and Lalchungnunga (54th) discovered the again of the online. Later, Punjab FC scored the comfort aim within the 62nd minute, courtesy of a unbelievable strike from Ezequiel Vidal. East Bengal are actually unbeaten of their final three away video games this marketing campaign as they saved their hopes for playoffs alive albeit mathematically.
They are tenth within the desk with 24 factors from 21 video games now, whereas Punjab FC have dropped to the eleventh place.
With three video games left to play, each East Bengal and Punjab FC are eight factors behind the sixth-placed Mumbai City.
East Bengal made some promising strikes from the left flank to start out the sport, whereas Punjab FC’s backline have been alert to the hazard within the early exchanges.
The Red and Gold brigade took the lead when their Greek ahead hammered a shot on aim from the left, extra in hope than conviction but it surely went by way of Ravi Kumar’s legs into the aim.
Diamantakos had one other alternative to double the lead within the forty fourth minute when Raphael Messi Bouli discovered him with a low cross after beating his marker.
However, earlier than the 31-year-old might get his shot away, Ivan Novoselec stole the ball from his path and averted the hazard.
Panagiotis Dilmperis made two attacking adjustments at the beginning of the second half. He launched Luka Majcen and Nihal Sudeesh, changing Asmir Suljic and Asish Pradhan respectively.
However, Punjab FC have been caught ball-watching as Mahesh slotted the ball previous Ravi within the aim to increase the lead for the guests.
It all began from an extended throw for East Bengal the place Messi Bouli shrugged off his marker and launched a cross to Vishnu in area. His shot was blocked by Novoselec but it surely landed kindly for Mahesh, who calmly nestled it into the again of the online.
The Red and Gold discovered the third aim from Mahesh’s nook which was initially punched away by Ravi however Punjab FC defenders have been unable to clear their strains.
Lalchungnunga confirmed nice consciousness to find the underside nook with a thunderous strike.
In the 61st minute, Punjab FC virtually scored when Khaiminthang Lhungdim discovered Majcen with an extended go and the Slovenian headed it in direction of aim.
But Prabhsukhan Gill was alert to the hazard and confirmed nice reflexes to maintain out the header.
A minute later, the hosts ultimately scored when a scrappy cross from the best bounced close to East Bengal’s last third.
It was Vidal, who reacted first and volleyed the ball into the highest nook, leaving Gill and the defenders in awe.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
