EBFC 3-1 IAFFT Highlights, Durand Cup 2024: Second half goals from Diamantakos, Crespo hands East Bengal win over Indian Air Force

Credits: SonyLiv

East Bengal comes from behind to stage an incredible comeback and open its Durand Cup 2024 campaign with a thumping 3-1 win over the Indian Air Force side. Second half goals from Dimitrios Diamantakos and Saul Crespo sealed the deal for the Red and Gold Brigade.

Somananda, the goalscorer for the Air Force side, makes way for Kima.

Madih Talal comes off for Jesin, as the midfielder walks back to the dugout in the wake of a rousing applause from the East Bengal fans in the stands.

Mark, who assisted Diamantakos’ goal, makes way for Gursimrat Gill.

Halder comes off for Yash, Saurav makes way for Zico.

Great ball in from the corner flag from Talal to find the centre-back, but Chungnunga’s header goes above the crossbar.

Skipper Saul Crespo rolls the ball in the back of the net, past the goalie, to add another goal to East Bengal’s tally. Talal, once again, finds the eventual scorer, who on the half-turn, lets off a shot.

Souvik Chakrabarti makes way for Aman CK.

On his debut for the club, Dimitrios Diamantakos gives East Bengal the lead in the match for the first time. A great ball from left-back Mark to find a leaping Dimi who headed the ball past Subhajit to shake the net.

There was a penalty appeal after Talal was seemingly brought down, and too much appealing perhaps earned Souvik a yellow card for dissent.

Crespo plays a weighted ball towards an unmarked Diamantakos, but the towering defender fails to get his touch right as the ball goes beyond him.

Madih Talal lays it off for a ready Souvik at the edge of the box. The midfielder takes a quick touch and lets off a thumping shot staright at the Air Force goalie, who collects it well.

It’s Dimitrios Diamantakos and PV Vishnu who come in for the Red and Gold Brigade. Mahesh and David come off.

It’s all to play for in the second half between East Bengal and Air Force at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Credits: SonyLiv

The referee blows the whistle a bit early but that’s half time. East Bengal was the better side in terms of creating chances, but it was Air Force who got the lead through Somananda’s deft flick off his head. Sure enough, East Bengal came back with an equaliser, courtesy a chipped finish from David.

Great cutback to find Naorem inside the box, but the winger’s shot just goes wide of the goal.

David Lalhlansanga chips the Air Force goalie and equalises for East Bengal! Great chipped ball from Madih Talal to put the forward through on goal, as the he fends off a defender and scores.

We can see the former Kerala Blasters forward Dimitrios Diamantakos come on and try to get East Bengal back in the game, if the side fails to get an equaliser at half time.

The East Bengal centre-back had loads of time to get his shot on target from the edge of the box but he puts it over. He shakes his head in disappointment.

Great work from the Air Force defenders to hound David inside the box to delay his shot, that ultimately goes wide.

Danish, who just got booked, is coming off for Arash. Could be an injury concern as well, as pointed out by the commentators.

East Bengal’s Mark Zothanpuia tries his luck with a blinder of a shot from inside the box but sends it to the stands.

Danish is shown a yellow card for a crunching tackle on Souvik Chakrabarti.

A good passage of play from East Bengal that ends with Crespo trying to find the net with a header but a defender was there in the path to deflect the ball behind for a corner.

You can see hordes of blue shirts around every Red and Gold shirt that is trying to play a pass to the forward line or line up a shot. One would assume that after getting the lead, Air Force would sit back now, making it tougher for Carles Cuadrat’s men to penetrate and score an equaliser.

No one could have seen that coming! Sourav Sadukhan from the right flank beats his man and chips it towards Somananda Singh who heads it past Gill to nestle the ball inside the net!

Skipper Saul Crespo tries his luck from distance but it goes wide.

Most of the match in the first 15 minutes or so has been played inside Air Force’s half. East Bengal goalie Prabhsukhan Gill hasn’t had to do much, yet.

East Bengal has had a good couple of chances to get the lead, but the Air Force backline has stood its ground and kept Carles Cuadrat’s men at bay.

The forward finds himself in a one-on-one situation with the keeper but Subhajit Basu does well to keep the score 0-0.

That was close! An early freekick for East Bengal saw the host almost getting lead in the first two minutes but the threat was thwarted by the Air Force players.

East Bengal kicks off the match against Indian Air Force at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Credits: SonyLiv

The Red and Gold Brigade would hope to put last year’s loss in the final behind it and start off this campaign with a win against Indian Air Force FT.