East Bengal delivered a sensational performance, crushing Bangladeshi champions Basundhara Kings 4-0 in their AFC Challenge League Group A clash at the picturesque Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu. The stadium, set against the stunning backdrop of Bhutan’s mountains, witnessed East Bengal unleash a first-half goal blitz that left their fans elated and their opponents stunned.
Under head coach Oscar Bruzon, East Bengal’s confidence was high from the first whistle. The Kolkata side displayed a rare fluidity and precision in attack, outclassing their opponents and looking every bit the dominant force throughout the game. Even in the second-half, with a secure lead, they continued to attack relentlessly.
Six minutes into the second half, Cleiton Silva narrowly missed a one-on-one opportunity following a brilliant build-up from Madih Talal — a move that could have capped off one of the season’s finest team goals.
East Bengal started their scoring spree almost immediately, as Greek forward Dimitrios Diamantakos netted what could be one of the fastest goals in an AFC tournament — a mere 35 seconds into the game. With a swift movement down the left flank, Lalchungnunga sent a low, grounded cross that Diamantakos finished confidently with his left foot. It was the kind of start that set the tone for what would be a one-sided affair.
East Bengal’s attacking prowess was on full display as Souvick Chakraborty, Nandhakumar Sekhar and Anwar Ali each added to the scoreline in style. Nandhakumar stood out with his relentless runs down the left flank, eventually beating his defender with a sharp outside touch and slotting a clean finish into the far post.
Both Chakraborty and Ali’s goals were top-class efforts. The former seized a loose ball off the defence and unleashed a powerful left-footed volley. Meanwhile, Ali, East Bengal’s star signing, showcased his precision as he curled a shot from 30 yards into the net following a corner, evading the outstretched arms of Basundhara ‘keeper Anisur Rahman Zico.
Though the Kings came close to narrowing the gap in the second-half with a ball hitting the post and a point-blank miss, East Bengal remained in control. A fifth goal nearly materialised when Silva had a chance to chip the ball over Rahman, but he missed — raising some concerns about his form amid transfer speculations.
There were some other chances where East Bengal could have increased their lead, but Zico did well under the Kings post. Ali, however, reaffirmed his worth, not only with his goal but also with impeccable defensive display throughout the match.
With this emphatic win, and a much required clean sheet, East Bengal will enter their next match against Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC, who earlier on the day won against Paro FC by a 2-1 margin, on November 1, brimming with confidence.