East Bengal FC made a flying start to their IFA Shield 2025 campaign, registering a commanding 4-0 victory over Sreenidi Deccan FC at the Kalyani Stadium on Wednesday. The emphatic win marked a strong return to competitive football for the Red and Gold brigade, who showed both attacking intent and defensive solidity throughout the encounter.
The Kolkata giants’ newest recruit, Jay Gupta, wasted no time in making his presence felt. On his debut, the energetic forward opened the scoring in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a well-worked move that highlighted East Bengal’s fluid attacking play. The early breakthrough set the tone for what would become a one-sided affair.
Captain Saul Crespo, a figure of composure in midfield, doubled East Bengal’s advantage just before halftime with a precise finish, ensuring his side went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion. The team continued to dominate possession and control the rhythm of the game, leaving Sreenidi Deccan struggling to find a foothold.
After the restart, East Bengal maintained their tempo and pressed forward in search of more goals. Another new signing, Ahadad Hamid, extended the lead midway through the second half, displaying great positioning to make it 3-0. Barely three minutes later, midfielder Jeakson Singh rose above the defence to head home a well-delivered cross, completing the 4-0 rout and sealing a perfect evening for the home side.
Speaking after the match, East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon expressed satisfaction with the result but also stressed the need for improvement. “We are happy to return to competitive football with a 4-0 win. Sreenidi fielded their B team and tried their best to put up a good fight. At the same time, it’s true that we need to be more clinical in conversion,” Bruzon said. “Our focus shifts to the group stage decider against Namdhari and we need to put up a stronger performance against them.”
With this victory, East Bengal have taken a strong step toward qualifying from Group A of the IFA Shield. Their next and final group fixture against Namdhari FC, scheduled for 14 October at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, will determine their progress in the competition.
