ISL 2023-24: Karelis brace helps Mumbai City stun East Bengal 3-2 in its own den

ISL 2023-24: Karelis brace helps Mumbai City stun East Bengal 3-2 in its own den

Mumbai City FC halted East Bengal FC’s resurgence by downing the home favourite 3-2 in an Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Monday.

Mumbai City established a two-goal lead at the break with contributions from Lallianzuala Chhangte and Nikolaos Karelis just to see East Bengal making a comeback and make it 2-2 in the second half.

The host pulled one back off Mumbai defender Sahil Panwar’s own goal before substitute David Lalhlansanga levelled the issue with a clinical effort.

Karelis got his second goal three minutes from time to ensure the win for Mumbai City.

Mumbai City jumped to the fifth spot in the current standings with 23 points from 14 matches while East Bengal remained in the 11th position with 14 points from as many matches.

East Bengal appeared to be low on resolve in the opening half as Mumbai City really got its act together to mount continuous pressure on a tentative home defence to secure a lead of two goals at half-time.

The opening goal came off a diagonal pass in the 39th minute from Brandon Fernandes that found Chhangte free on top of the East Bengal box.

The Mumbai City captain unleashed an angular grounder seeing the ball hit the inside of the upright to find its way home. Mumbai City doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when Dutch midfielder Yoell van Nieff essayed a through pass for Karelis inside the box.

The Greek forward saw his first attempt saved by East Bengal goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, but he made no mistake with the rebound to give the Islanders a two-goal cushion.

East Bengal returned after the break as a much-reformed side and pinned Mumbai City back into defending with repeated assaults in its box. It pulled one back in the 66th minute when Mumbai City defender Sahil Panwar deflected home a back-centre from P.V. Vishnu for an own goal.

The hosts then found the equaliser in the 83rd minute off its substitute Lalhlansanga, who volleyed home an assist from Hector Yuste, following a corner.

But Mumbai City snatched back the lead in the 87th minute off a fine effort from Karelis to secure the full quota of points, leaving East Bengal with a big task to accomplish when it meets its rival Mohun Bagan Super Giant on January 11.