ISL 2024-25: Nine-Man East Bengal Hold Mohammedan to a Hard-Fought Draw in Kolkata Derby

Kolkata: In a highly anticipated clash at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal FC and Mohammedan SC met for the first time in the Indian Super League, reigniting their historic rivalry. The last time these two sides faced each other in a league fixture was back in 2014, when East Bengal triumphed 3-1. However, this encounter ended in a hard-fought goalless draw, with East Bengal showcasing tremendous resilience after being reduced to nine men.From the outset, Mohammedan SC signaled their attacking intent, applying early pressure on East Bengal. Just moments into the match, East Bengal’s Naorem Mahesh was shown a yellow card for a tough challenge on Mohammedan’s Franca, setting the tone for a gritty contest.The first half saw both teams struggle to find clear scoring opportunities. East Bengal managed to win a corner, but Mohammedan’s goalkeeper Bhaskar Roy dealt with the threat easily. A free-kick opportunity later came for East Bengal, but the shot narrowly missed its target.The game’s pivotal moment came in the 29th minute, when East Bengal’s Nandhakumar received a straight red card for an aggressive gesture toward Mohammedan’s Amarjit Kiyam. To make matters worse for the Red and Gold Brigade, Naorem Mahesh followed his teammate to the dressing room after kicking the ball away in frustration, earning himself a second red card. East Bengal were down to nine men, and the outlook seemed bleak.Despite having a two-man advantage, Mohammedan struggled to capitalize on the opportunity. Zodingliana Ralte’s shot in the 63rd minute sailed over the crossbar, while Lobi Manzoki was repeatedly thwarted by East Bengal’s steadfast goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, who made crucial saves throughout the match.As the clock ticked down, East Bengal’s injury woes continued when Madih Talal, a key player in midfield, went down with a cramp and was replaced by Cleiton Silva. Despite the disruptions, East Bengal’s defense held firm, frustrating Mohammedan’s attempts to find a breakthrough.In the dying moments of the game, with ten minutes added for stoppage time, both teams tried to snatch a winner. However, the score remained 0-0, with neither side able to break the deadlock.For East Bengal, the result may not have been the elusive first win of their ISL campaign, but it marked a small victory in breaking their six-game losing streak. Though still rooted to the bottom of the table in 13th place, East Bengal can take pride in their fighting spirit, especially given the circumstances. Their fans will surely be pleased with the grit their team showed in securing a point despite being two men down.Mohammedan SC, sitting just above East Bengal in 12th place, will feel disappointed not to have taken advantage of the numerical superiority, as they failed to create enough clear chances. Both teams remain winless this season, but East Bengal’s display of resilience will give them hope as they continue to search for their first victory.