Nandhakumar Sekar guides the Red & Gold to the first Kolkata Derby win in four years
East Bengal wins the Kolkata Derby for the first time in 1666 days after defeating Mohun Bagan 1-0 thanks to a goal in the 60th minute by Nandhakumar Sekhar.
Armando Sadiku, Mohun Bagan’s new weapon, helped them dominate the opening minutes of the encounter.
Nandha, Naorem Mahesh, and Javier Siverio of East Bengal continued to provide a threat to the Mohun Bagan defence. With Nandha‘s banger in the 60th minute, EB made it 1-0.
First-Half
In the fourth minute, Hugo Boumous won the ball in a dangerous area, just outside the penalty box, as Anirudh Thapa won possession. Armando Sadiku took a snapshot that past the upright.
The tackles started to flow, brought about more due to a lack of match practice rather than ill intention.
East Bengal go a brilliant chance in the 17th minute. Asish Rai willed a ball to go out as Mahesh Singh contested. He poked it back at the feet of Javier Siverio, who almost turned the ball in.
Coming to the 21st minute, Thapa and Liston fought back possession in the final third as Sadiku laid it off for Boumous, who tried his luck from a distance. The effort went agonisingly wide.
After the water break at the 30th-minute mark, there were some injuries too, some inflicted with tough challenges, while Subhasish Bose appeared to have a dead leg while trying to run down the left flank.
The game’s first card came in the added time after 45′, as Harmanjot Khabra brought down Liston who had dribbled the ball past him on the left.
This resulting a free-kick that stopped the collected breath of the stadium but Boumous’ cross was lapped up by Prabhsukhan Singh Gil.
Second-Half
After the first half, the tackles became more and more attacking, on their opponents.
In the 51st minute, Manvir Singh was tackled down to the ground by Souvik Chakrabarti and deservedly was booked by the referee.
As the clock neared the hour mark, Mohun Bagan were on the attack with Manvir and Dimitrios Petratos combining well.
Nandha Kumar was already on his way, Anirudh Thapa scrabbling backfoot to get to his man.
Borja’s precise through ball dissected the Mariners’ defence.
Nandha made Thapa think he would go down the wing only for him to cut back onto his left at the edge of the box. As the ball left his boot, half of the red-and-gold crowd were already in delirious joy.
Vishal Kaith, in goal, jumped helplessly to his right as the ball curled into the top corner.
Mohun Bagan boss Juan Ferrando looked panicky and called on Sahal Abdul and Ashique Kuruniyan to join Jason Cummings and Petratos. Carles Cuadrat brought on defensive cover.
The match also progressively turned more aggressive as the tackles became rougher and players clashed on and off the ball in play.
Post Match
East Bengal had beaten Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata Derby for the first time since 27th January 2019.
Mohun Bagan SG still leads Group A with 6 points in 3 games. While East Bengal still has a game in hand with 4 points after 2 games.
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