East Bengal split points with Bengaluru in a gritty 1-1 draw
A gritty performance from East Bengal helped them hold Bengaluru to a 1-1 draw in ‘Match 49’ of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. A brilliant diving header from Thongkhosiem Haokip opened the scoring for East Bengal in the 28th minute while an own goal from Saurav Das saw the Blues claw their way back into the game.
Interim head coach Renedy Singh did not change his predecessor Manolo Diaz’s 4-1-4-1 formation but we did see personnel changes. Adil Khan, Wahengbam Luwang, Naorem Singh, and Haokip were handed starts with Raju Gaikwad, Amarjit Singh, Amir Dervisevic, and Mohammed Rafique making way for the incoming quartet.
On the other hand, Bengaluru head coach Maco Pezzaiouli included Udanta Singh in the starting XI with Ashique Kuruniyan returning to his left-back position and Ajith Kumar dropping to the bench.
It was a cagey game right from the start as both sides canceled each other out. The first real chance came Lalrinliana Hnamte’s way when he charged down the left flank before laying it off for Haokip, but his shot was blocked by a blue shirt. Perhaps, passing it to Mahesh would have been the better option, as he was unmarked at the far post.
The Blues eventually found their footing and got a big opportunity in the 20th minute when Ashique Kuruniyan found himself in space, but his poor touch let him down, while Bruno Ramirez’s ambitious effort from distance a minute later sailed into the stands.
The Kolkata-based team took the lead in the 28th minute when a brilliantly drilled-in freekick by Luwang found Haokip in space who made no mistake in scoring against his former employers.
Bengaluru only has themselves to blame for not restoring parity almost immediately, as nine minutes later, a Cleiton Silva freekick found Alan Costa in space but the Brazilian failed to get a proper connection in his header.
Pezzaiouli made some changes at the beginning of the second half as he brought on Sunil Chhetri for Jayesh Rane, while Pratik Chowdhuri was called up to provide solidity at the back in place of Parag Shrivas who was caught flat-footed on a few occasions in the first half.
The Blues finally found their equalizer in the 56th minute when Das headed a Naorem Roshan Singh cross towards his own net with the East Bengal custodian Arindam Bhattacharja stuck on the left side of the goal. The former winners almost took the lead in the 66th minute but Ibara could not get his header on target. Six minutes later, Chhetri came up with a decent strike from close range but his shot was blocked on the goal-line by Hira Mondal.
Thongkhosiem Haokip had a glorious opportunity to seal the game for East Bengal in the dying moments
The last big chance of the match came East Bengal’s way, as having found the back of the net already, Haokip had the chance to be the hero for East Bengal in the dying moments of the game when a great ball from midfield saw him completely unmarked. Despite having an open goal in front of him, the Manipuri attacker let the chance go begging.
This gritty draw is likely to be a morale-booster for the Red and Golds but they remain winless in the ongoing season. A tough test awaits for Renedy’s boys as they will take on defending champions Mumbai City at the Tilak Maidan Stadium on Friday while Bengaluru’s next assignment is also against Mumbai City which will be played next Wednesday.