ISL 10: Following the exhilaration of a 5-0 victory against NorthEast United FC, EBFC struggled to replicate their momentum and settled for a single point in the evenly contested match.
After the exhilarating 5-0 triumph over NorthEast United FC, EBFC struggled to replicate their form and settled for a solitary point in a tightly contested match against the determined debutant Punjab FC. Despite making several effective counter-attacks, Punjab’s youthful lineup was denied a goal in the 36th minute when Spanish midfielder Juan Mera’s left-footed attempt struck the crosspiece.
East Bengal, unable to sustain the momentum from their previous big win, faced resolute defending from Punjab FC in the ISL match at the Salt Lake Stadium. The host’s offensive efforts were thwarted by Punjab’s predominantly defensive strategy, preventing clear opportunities for EBFC attackers. Despite controlling the midfield and launching impressive raids, East Bengal failed to hit the target in the first half. An early appeal for a penalty following a foul on Cleiton Silva by Punjab defender Nitesh Darjee went unnoticed by the referee.
In the 58th minute, EBFC had their first significant chance, but Brazilian striker Cleiton’s attempt was saved by goalkeeper Kiran Limbu. As a result, EBFC holds the sixth position with nine points from eight matches, while Punjab FC remains in the 11th spot with five points.
The match concluded with a goalless draw: East Bengal FC 0, Punjab FC 0.