Cleiton Silva struck a 90th-minute winner to give East Bengal a 2-1 victory against Bengaluru FC, in an ISL encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Friday.
Silva scored both goals against his former team. The Maidan giants took the lead thanks to a Silva penalty in the 39th minute.
The goal came against the run of play thanks to some good work from Suhair VP on the right flank. Suhair’s mazy run forced Naorem Mahesh Singh into a mistimed sliding tackle, and the ball rolled onto his arms.
The referee pointed to the spot and Silva took a stuttering run-up but calmly slotted his penalty home.
Bengaluru FC did build up pressure and were rewarded in the 55th minute. Once again, Roy Krishna was in the thick of things.
He went on a run on the right flank before cutting it back to Javi Herandez, who smashed the ball into the net.
With both sides pushing for the winner, Bengaluru FC substitute Siva Narayan came ever so close in the 90th minute, but Suvan Sen was there to deny him.
Silva scored an outstanding free-kick three minutes into stoppage time to give East Bengal three points and move above them into eighth place on the points table.
