East Bengal FC extended their fine run in the Indian Super League (ISL) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday. This marked the Red and Golds’ fourth win in their last five games, as Dimitrios Diamantakos' 60th-minute strike proved decisive.
Under the guidance of new head coach Oscar Bruzon, East Bengal have displayed remarkable improvement, climbing the points table with consistent performances. The win kept their momentum alive, solidifying their mid-season rise, while Jamshedpur FC continued to struggle with inefficiency in the final third.
Jamshedpur started brightly in the second half, dominating the first 10 minutes. Their best opportunity came in the 54th minute when Hector Yuste connected well with a corner, forcing Albino Gomes into a fine save. However, East Bengal’s persistence paid off six minutes later when Nandhakumar Sekar’s precise cross found Diamantakos in the box. The Greek forward made no mistake, slotting the ball past a stranded Jamshedpur defence.
Cleiton Silva also played a vital role in the buildup to the goal, orchestrating the move that caught Jamshedpur’s backline ball-watching. Despite East Bengal’s relentless pressure, Jamshedpur had a few chances, including a diving header from Irfan Yadwad that rattled the crossbar in the 48th minute.
Earlier in Mumbai, Nikolaos Karelis’ eighth-minute strike secured Mumbai City FC a narrow 1-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC. The win propelled Mumbai to fourth in the standings, with 20 points from 12 games.
Karelis capitalised on a loose ball after Yoell van Nieff’s shot was deflected, calmly finishing into the bottom corner. He almost turned provider six minutes later, setting up Vikram Partap Singh, but the youngster's effort went wide.
Chennaiyin FC, on the other hand, struggled to convert chances, marking their third consecutive away game without a goal. Lukas Brambilla came closest for the Marina Machans, but Mumbai goalkeeper TP Rehenesh and defender Tiri ensured a clean sheet with crucial interventions.
In the second half, Daniel Chima Chukwu and Irfan Yadwad led Chennaiyin's charge, but the crossbar and Mumbai’s resilient defence kept them at bay. Yadwad’s diving header in the 48th minute struck the woodwork, while Rehenesh produced a string of saves to secure the three points for the Islanders.
With Mumbai’s win and East Bengal’s triumph, the ISL weekend showcased a tale of two resurgent teams, one eyeing a top-four finish and the other solidifying their comeback story under a new tactician.
