- Punjab FC – 1 (Pulga Vidal 62’)
- East Bengal FC – 3 (Diamantakos 15’, Mahesh 47’, Chungnunga 54’)
New Delhi, February 22, 2025: Punjab FC went down 1-3 to East Bengal FC in the Indian Super League fixture which was played here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ending the playoff hopes of Punjab FC. Punjab FC dropped to 11th place with 24 points from 21 matches while East Bengal climbed to tenth in the table with the same number of points. Dimitrios Diamantakos, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Lalchungnunga scored for the winners while Ezequiel Pulga Vidal scored the consolation goal for Punjab FC.
The first choice centre back pair of Ivan Novoselec and Suresh Meitei returned after their suspension as Head Coach Panagiotis Dilmperis made three other forced changes. Nikhil Prabhu, Tekcham Abhishek Singh and Filip Mrzljak missed out due to injuries. Leon Augustine slotted in at left back while Asmir Suljic and Muhammad Suhail started in attack along with Ezequiel Vidal and Petros Giakoumakis. On the other hand, East Bengal Head Coach Oscar Bruzon, who were missing a few first team regulars named a strong starting eleven with Dimitri Diamantakos, Raphael Messi Bouli, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Saul Crespo and P.V Vishnu heading the attack line.
The visitors took an early lead in the 15th minute, capitalising on the defensive mistake of Punjab. Suresh Meitei failed to clear the ball and Diamantakos made full use of it as his left footed shot found the net through the hands of goalkeeper Ravi Kumar. East Bengal could have doubled the advantage minutes later, but Diamantakos failed to convert a sitter from the six yard box after Raphael Messi Bouli put it on a plate for the forward. On the other end, Prabhsukhan Gill made a smart save off Giakoumakis’s effort from the near post. Messi Bouli continued to create trouble in the left wing, but the Punjab defence negated his crosses inside the box as East Bengal took the one goal lead into the half.
East Bengal doubled their advantage in the second minute of the restart with Messi Bouli contributing once again. The Cameroonian found Vishnu P.V at the edge of the box whose shot was blocked by Novoselec but the rebound fell for Mahesh who comfortably found the net. East Bengal scored the third just eight minutes later. A free-kick from the right corner was not cleared properly by the Punjab defence and the ball fell on the path of Lalchungnunga who found the bottom corner past Ravi Kumar. On the other end, Prabhsukhan Gill made two fantastic saves from the efforts of Giakoumakis and second half substitute Luka Majcen.
Punjab pulled one back from a thunderous long ranger by Pulga Vidal who took the volley from 25 yards outside the box. The Shers continued to pile on the pressure on the East Bengal defence but the final output was missing as they could not convert the chances which were being created. In the end East Bengal held on to their two goal advantage to secure three points.
Punjab FC will welcome FC Goa for their final home match of the league season on February 27th which will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
