East Bengal emerged victorious in their Durand Cup 2024 group stage match, defeating Downtown Heroes FC by a score of 3-1 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The Red and Gold Brigade took the lead in the 23rd minute when Madih Talal expertly placed the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal with a casual shot from a freekick outside the box. However, Downtown Heroes equalised just seven minutes later thanks to a deflected shot by Aafreen. The ball came into the box from a freekick and after a deflection, it bounced towards Mohammad Rakip. East Bengal’s Rakip attempted to clear the ball, but it hit Aafreen, took a slight touch off Prabhsukhan Gill, and found its way into the net.
East Bengal regained the lead in the 33rd minute when they were awarded a penalty after Vishnu PV was brought down inside the box. Skipper Saul Crespo stepped up to convert the penalty, putting his team back in front.
The final goal came from substitute Jesin TK, who scored his first senior goal for East Bengal in the 77th minute. He capitalized on a poor giveaway from Downtown’s backline, showcasing his skills with some impressive feints before slotting the ball into the top left corner of the goal.
East Bengal’s victory solidifies their position in the Durand Cup group stage, demonstrating their strong performance and determination on the field.
