East Bengal all the way from the second half whistle
It was a high-tempo match with box-to-box play in the first 20 minutes. It just whizzed past in the blink of an eye. Even then, East Bengal had made their attacking intentions only too clear, with a feisty Wilis Plaza coming close to draw the opening salvo – in the 7th and the 13th-minute mark and Brandon coming close in the 18th minute.
Thereafter the match seemed to totter but EB caught it by the scruff at the 35th minute. But still no goal was in sight. One struck the woodwork. Post half-time EB came with al guns blazing and had the 65th-minute goal to show for the collective efforts of Katsumi Yusa, Mahmoud Al Amna, Willis Plaza and Brandon Vanlalremdika. Whatever be the end result, EB really presented its fans with a blood-rising game.