ISL 2024-25: Late Chhetri strike dashes East Bengal’s play-off dreams in 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC
ISL 2024-25: Late Chhetri strike dashes East Bengal’s play-off dreams in 1-1 draw against Bengaluru FC
A penalty conversion in the last minute by captain Sunil Chhetri helped Bengaluru FC hold a 10-man East Bengal to a 1-1 draw in an Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday.
East Bengal established an early lead through its Cameroonian forward Raphael Messi Bouli which was cancelled in the final minute of the regulation time by Chhetri.
The result saw BFC reclaiming third place in the current standings with 38 points from 23 matches, while it was the end of the road for East Bengal which saw its play-off chances evaporating. The Torch Bearers tallied 28 points from 23 matches and remained in the eight spot.
Messi Bouli gave the host the lead with an opportunistic goal in the 11th minute when the ball reached him following a duel between the EBFC midfielder Saul Crespo and the Bengaluru defender Fanai near the latter’s box.
The home side created several chances but failed to extend its lead. EBFC winger Vishnu Puthiya Valappill got a brilliant chance near the half-hour mark due to a defensive mix-up from Suresh Singh Wangjam but failed to keep his effort on target from the six-yard box.
The Kolkata-based team opened up the Bengaluru defence once again towards the end of the session but Dimitrios Diamantakos failed to put it past the Bengaluru goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu.
The Greek striker received marching orders in the added time when he got into a scuffle with Bengaluru’s Spanish midfielder Alberto Noguera and was penalized for head-butting the latter.
Following the halftime interval, Bengaluru FC, benefiting from a numerical advantage, intensified its efforts to level the score. It applied significant pressure to East Bengal’s defence, relentlessly pushing for an equalising goal. However, despite its sustained attacking presence, Bengaluru struggled to penetrate EBFC’s resolute defensive line.
East Bengal not only successfully thwarted Bengaluru’s advances but even threatened to extend its lead in the 75th minute when David Lalhlansanga found himself one-on-on with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu following a counter-attck. The BFC goalkeeper made himself big to spotted the shot to keep his team in the hunt.
BFC had the host on the mat in the final 15 minutes but the goal remained elusive as its attackers were denied by he upright twice in close succession. Substitute Siva Sakthi saw his grounder from close range hitting the woodwork in the 76th minute after which it was the Australian defender Aleksander Jovanovic who saw his header from a Noguera cross coming off the post in the 80th minute.
The pivotal moment arrived late in the match when a controversial handball decision went against East Bengal. Defender Nishu Kumar was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded to the visiting side.
Chhetri stepped up and converted the spot-kick, sending the ball past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to end East Bengal’s play-off dreams.
