Kolkata: East Bengal FC produced a devastating attacking performance to crush CISF Protectors 8-0 in their Group A fixture of the 135th Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Friday. The emphatic victory secured the Kolkata giants their first three points of the tournament and kept their qualification hopes alive.
The Red-and-Gold Brigade established complete control by taking a 3-0 lead before the interval and then added five more goals in the second half. P.V. Vishnu was the standout performer with a sensational hat-trick, while Jesin T.K. netted twice. Jeakson Singh and Bipin Singh also scored, and CISF Protectors captain Mohammad Khalid conceded an unfortunate own goal. The result marked East Bengal’s strong response following their Kolkata Derby defeat.
East Bengal head coach Antonio López Habas made six changes from the side that featured in the Kolkata Derby against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, switching to a 4-3-3 formation. Goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa, Hardik Bhatt, P.V. Vishnu, Daniel Ramírez, Mohamad Basim Rashid and Jesin T.K. came into the starting eleven, while Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Sandip Mandi, Jeakson Singh and Edmund Lalrindika retained their places.
CISF Protectors coach Shehzad Khan also reshuffled his lineup, opting for a 4-4-2 formation. Captain Mohammad Khalid returned in place of Pawan Pratap Singh, while Aditya replaced Thangminlien Haokip in defence. The remaining starters retained their positions as CISF looked to build on their previous performance.
East Bengal imposed themselves from the opening whistle. Hardik Bhatt sent an inviting cross into the penalty area before Jesin T.K. tested goalkeeper Raj Kumar Mahato. Vishnu came agonisingly close to opening the scoring with an acrobatic effort that struck the woodwork.
The hosts controlled possession throughout the first half, with Edmund Lalrindika and Hardik Bhatt creating width from both flanks. Jeakson Singh fired narrowly wide, while Vishnu forced an excellent save from Raj Kumar Mahato with a powerful long-range strike.
Despite East Bengal’s sustained pressure, CISF defended with discipline. Jatinder Kumar produced an important block to deny Edmund before receiving treatment after taking a blow to the head, while Karamjeet Singh, Bebetto and the defence repeatedly cleared dangerous deliveries into the penalty area.
Following the first hydration break, East Bengal intensified their attacks. Raj Kumar Mahato made an outstanding double save, first collecting a cross off his line before denying Mohamad Basim Rashid from close range.
The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Edmund Lalrindika’s cutback found P.V. Vishnu inside the box. The winger produced a brilliant backheel finish to give East Bengal a deserved lead.
In the 42nd minute, Vishnu’s dangerous low cross deflected off CISF captain Mohammad Khalid and then ricocheted off goalkeeper Raj Kumar Mahato into the net, resulting in an own goal.
Deep into first-half stoppage time (45+3′), Daniel Ramírez displayed excellent composure before squaring the ball to Jeakson Singh, who calmly tapped into an empty net to send East Bengal into the break with a commanding 3-0 advantage.
East Bengal resumed with the same attacking intensity and extended their lead just two minutes after the restart. Sandip Mandi delivered a cross from the left and Vishnu produced a spectacular overhead kick to score his second goal.
The hosts continued to create chances as Raj Kumar Mahato denied another effort from Mohamad Basim Rashid, while Hardik Bhatt narrowly missed with a long-range attempt. Vishnu nearly completed his hat-trick after dribbling past the goalkeeper, but Daniel Ramírez’s follow-up effort found only the side netting.
Antonio López Habas refreshed his attack after the hour mark by introducing Bipin Singh and Rohit Kumar. The changes maintained East Bengal’s relentless momentum. Lalchungnunga struck the post, Jesin T.K. was denied from close range, and Edmund Lalrindika also rattled the woodwork.
The fifth goal came in the 64th minute when Bipin Singh finished a swift counter-attack with a composed strike beyond Raj Kumar Mahato.
Jesin T.K. made it 6-0 in the 70th minute after racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball before calmly finishing low past the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, he scored again to register his second goal of the evening.
Vishnu completed his memorable hat-trick in the 76th minute by converting Bipin Singh’s cross, taking the score to 8-0.
Even after establishing a massive lead, East Bengal continued pressing forward and equalled the biggest winning margin in the history of the Durand Cup. CISF Protectors managed to prevent further damage, but the final whistle confirmed a dominant 8-0 triumph for the Kolkata side.
The comprehensive victory handed East Bengal their first three points of the campaign, strengthened their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage, and left CISF Protectors with a second consecutive defeat.
Brief Scorecard –
East Bengal FC : 8 (P.V. Vishnu 37′, 46′, 76′; Mohammad Khalid (Own Goal) 42′; Jeakson Singh 45+3′; Bipin Singh 64′; Jesin T.K. 70′, 73′)
CISF Protectors : 0.
