Kolkata: East Bengal FC accounted for Downtown Heroes 3-1 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Wednesday to stay on course for advancing to the Durand Cup quarterfinals from Group A.
Madih Talal put Carles Cuadrat’s team in front with a free-kick in the 23rd minute. Afreen Parray levelled the scoreline for the Kashmir side on the half an hour, but the home team regained the lead six minutes later, Saul Crespo converting a penalty after Vishnu PV earned it after being brought down by Downtown’s Mohammad Riyas inside the box.
Second-half substitute Jesin TK sealed the deal for last year’s finalists, with an excellent finish from the top of the box in the stoppage time. Downtown were reduced to 10 men in the 80th minute with Zahid Yusif receiving a red card from referee Williams Joy Koshy.
The second win in a row took East Bengal to 6 points, 3 points ahead of Mohun Bagan SG, who will take on Indian Air Force on Thursday (kick-off 4 pm). tnn