Kolkata: An injury-time free kick from Cleiton Silva helped East Bengal beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in a match of Indian Super League (ISL) at Vivekanand Yuva Bharati Stadium. The Brazilian striker, put the home team ahead with a penalty in the first half. He ensured East Bengal’s first home win of the season. However, Javi Hernandez found the only reply for Bengaluru FC.
Box-to-box combat was present in the first half, but neither team was able to use innovation to achieve the ideal ending. Bengaluru FC’s first opportunity came in the 26th minute when Roy Krishna was set up by Javi inside the East Bengal box. Suvam Sen, the goalkeeper for East Bengal, blocked the Fijian’s shot. Bengaluru’s next opportunity came in the 35th minute, but Krishna saw his shot hit the side netting.
In the 38th minute, Bengaluru left-back Roshan Singh handled the ball inside his own box while attempting to clear it in front of East Bengal forward V.P. Suhair. East Bengal’s efforts were rewarded. Cleiton scored from the penalty spot to give East Bengal the crucial lead before halftime.
Bengaluru increased its effort after the change of ends in pursuit of the equaliser, which came in the 55th minute on a counterattack.
Bengaluru midfielder Pablo Perez seized over after Suhair lost possession of the ball and set up Krishna on the right. The Fijian moved past his defender and attempted a cutback cross for Javi, who successfully placed the ball in the East Bengal goal’s corner. With a fantastic free kick that went under the upper angle of the crossbar in stoppage time, Cleiton put the game away.
It was a wonderful tribute from East Bengal’s Brazilian striker to earn his team the victory as players and spectators observed a moment of silence in memory of Pele, the greatest football icon who passed away the day before the game. Pele passed away early in the day.
East Bengal moved up to eighth place in the standings by accruing 12 points from 11 games, passing Bengaluru, which kept 10 from 12.
