East Bengal FC secured a much-needed victory in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25, defeating city rival Mohammedan Sporting 3-1 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. The win ended East Bengal’s winless run and reinforced its dominance in the historic Kolkata Derby.
Naorem Mahesh Singh opened the scoring in the 27th minute, followed by a goal from substitute Saul Crespo. Mohammedan Sporting briefly fought back with a goal from Carlos Franca, but a late strike from David Lalhlansanga sealed the three points for East Bengal.
East Bengal controlled the tempo in the first half, creating multiple attacking chances. Their efforts paid off in the 27th minute when P.V. Vishnu’s precise through-ball found Mahesh inside the Mohammedan box. The winger unleashed a fierce left-footed volley past goalkeeper Padam Chettri, who had rushed off his line too soon, giving East Bengal an early lead.
Mohammedan struggled to mount a response in the first half but came back stronger after the break. However, just as the Black Panthers were beginning to threaten, East Bengal doubled its advantage in the 65th minute.
Cameroonian forward Raphael Messi Bouli, a key presence in East Bengal’s attack, intercepted a pass in midfield and swiftly set up Spanish midfielder Saul Crespo. Crespo displayed composure as he chipped the ball over an onrushing Padam Chettri, putting East Bengal 2-0 ahead.
Mohammedan responded immediately, pulling a goal back just three minutes later. Franca’s strike from a tight angle beat East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh, offering a glimmer of hope for the Black Panthers.
Despite increased attacking efforts from Mohammedan, they squandered a golden chance in the 77th minute. Argentine midfielder Alexis Gomez’s long-range attempt was blocked by Prabhsukhan, and the ball remained in the box, leading to two more close-range efforts from Robi Hansda and Lalremsanga Fanai—both denied by the crossbar and a goal-line clearance from Anwar Ali.
East Bengal, showing better efficiency in front of goal, wrapped up the match in the 89th minute. David Lalhlansanga, who had replaced Messi Bouli, netted the third goal, ensuring a comfortable victory for his side.
Despite the win, East Bengal remains in 11th place with 21 points from 20 matches, while Mohammedan Sporting remains at the bottom of the table with 11 points from 20 games.
This result brings a boost of confidence for East Bengal, which will now look to build on this momentum in its remaining fixtures. Meanwhile, Mohammedan Sporting faces an uphill battle to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings.
