12 Kolkata: It will be a miracle for East Bengal FC to make the playoffs of Indian Super League 2024-25. However, Oscar Bruzon's side is showing signs of improvement in the business end of the league with one eye on moving up the table and the other on building up momentum ahead of their upcoming tilt in Asian football.
This recently-found confidence saw them brush aside Punjab FC 3-1 in New Delhi on Saturday in a result which produced a few firsts for the red-and-gold brigade. Goals from Dimitrios Diamantakos (15), Mahesh Naorem Singh (47) and Lalchungnunga (54) helped East Bengal do a rare double on Punjab FC. Although Pulga Vidal's reduced the margin in the 62nd minute, East Bengal's victory never looked in doubt.
With 24 points from 21 matches, Bruzon's side moved up to ninth on the table at the expense of Punjab FC as well as Kerala Blasters, equalling their previous best points tally achieved in the last season. This was also their win No. 7 in this league, their highest number of victories in a single edition since their entry into the ISL in 2020.
Unlike the first leg when East Bengal had to overcome a 2-goal deficit to run away with a 4-2 verdict, East Bengal took control of the match right at the beginning.
Diamantakos ended his goal drought by opening the scoreline cashing in on a couple of defensive errors from the hosts. As Chungnunga pushed the ball forward with a header, Punjab defender Suresh Meetei completely misjudged the ball, allowing Diamantakos an unchallenged entry into the box and the Greek striker placed the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Ravi Kumar for his first goal in 9 matches.
Diamantakos almost made it 2-0 but his stab on a Raphael Messi Bouli centre was denied by the upright and PV Vishnu also failed to push the rebound in from close.
However, it was another move from Messi Bouli which led to the second goal soon after the break. Vishnu's attempt following the Cameroonian's cutback was initially blocked by Croatian defender Ivan Novoselec and Mahesh Naorem was on hand to place the ball into an open net.
Chungnunga made it 3-0 soon after when Punjab defence again failed to deal with a Mahesh free-kick properly and the East Bengal defender found the back of net with a powerful volley from inside the box.
Prabhsukhan Gill came up with back-to-back saves, denying Petros Giakoumakis and Luka Majcen but when Vidal came calling, meeting a loose ball with a powerful strike, the East Bengal goalkeeper had no chance to deal with it.