Nine-man East Bengal put up a memorable fight for their fans and secured a 0-0 draw against arch-rivals Mohammedan Sporting. This draw earned them their first point of the ISL season, but it was the players’ determined fight that made headlines. Despite the positives, there are a few areas where East Bengal could get better. Here are the key talking points:
Nandhakumar Sekar and Naorem Mahesh Singh’s immaturity
Both wingers, Nandhakumar Sekar and Mahesh Singh, are key players for the Red and Gold brigade. However, their actions, made in frustration, were unacceptable. In the 28th minute, Nandhakumar received a straight red card for swinging his arm at Amarjit Singh’s face. Frustrated with the call, Mahesh, who was already on a yellow card, kicked a water bottle in anger, earning himself a second yellow. This left East Bengal down to nine players and put the whole team in a tough spot.
In the post-match press conference, Coach Bruzon made it clear that he was disappointed with their actions and promised disciplinary measures. He said: “Mahesh is a very important player for us, a captain. But I can openly say that the team needs much more from Mahesh.
“His recent performances are not the ones that he was having in former seasons or beginning of the season. The player that everybody is expecting, is not the Mahesh we are getting in reality. Two particular actions from my players for the red card are not okay, and with our players, we are going to take disciplinary actions because we are not happy.”
Fans and their unwavering support
With 10 minutes of extra time added, East Bengal’s nine players stood tall, giving everything for over 70 minutes to defend and secure their first clean-sheet of the ISL season. During this period, the fans were fully behind them, showing the true power of the “12th man”!
They raised their voices, chanting and supporting each player. Although the crowd showed their displeasure with the referee—bursting firecrackers at one point—several announcements were made to calm things down. After the final whistle, all East Bengal players and staff applauded the fans, acknowledging their unwavering support.
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Oscar Bruzon’s charisma
The first question in the post-match press conference was about the pep talk Bruzon gave the players before the second half. In response, he emphasised the mindset of keeping a solid, compact defence. The Spaniard also shared that his players “fought like tigers” and, even with only nine men on the field, their only goal was to win. This is why they seized every chance to launch counter-attacks.
Bruzon noted that his players are starting to understand his messages, which is a positive sign for the future. He also said that he is not used to losing matches, reminding everyone of his past record. With a confident smile, the way the East Bengal coach spoke after the game showed the mentality that is being built within this Red and Gold squad.
Improvement of team’s fitness
Since the season began, East Bengal players have often been seen as lacking in fitness. After joining the club, Bruzon also highlighted this issue, saying improvements were needed. In the three AFC Challenge Cup matches, progress was clear, especially with how they performed at a high altitude in Bhutan.
Yesterday, they proved that their fitness no longer needs to be questioned. For over 70 minutes, all nine players fought hard—without top fitness, this would have been impossible. Apart from forward Dimitrios Diamantakos, the other eight players ran up and down the field together, working as a unit to prevent the ‘Black Panthers’ from scoring.
Commitment of foreign players
After losing their first six ISL matches, former players, legends, and many fans questioned the commitment of the current foreign players. These players are paid large sums of money, yet fans felt their efforts were lacking. Many said that there was a clear lack of intensity and passion to play for the historic badge.
However, after yesterday’s match, fans might find it hard to question the players’ commitment. Whether it was Diamantakos, Madih Talal, Saul Crespo, or Hijazi Maher, they all gave their best for the team. Maher, who has faced heavy criticism for his performances, showed true leadership with some vital tackles and clearances. Diamantakos, despite limited opportunities, used his speed and strength to trouble Mohammedan’s defenders.
Midway through the second half, Bruzon tried to substitute Talal, but the French midfielder signalled that he would stay on longer to help the team. This showed his passion and urgency to support the team in a challenging situation. Crespo, as always, played with calmness and composure, acting as a connecting piece between the defensive and offensive halves.
Missed chances, not capitalising on the numerical advantage – frustrating night for Md. Sporting
Surprisingly, Mohammedan Sporting started the game stronger than their opponents. When East Bengal was reduced to nine men, every Md. Sporting fan expected their team to capitalise on the numerical advantage. However, they struggled to penetrate the final third throughout the match, squandering key opportunities to take the lead. East Bengal’s goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Gill, also made some crucial saves.
In the post-match press conference, coach Andrey Chernyshov expressed disappointment, stating they should have won against nine men and were dissatisfied with the result. He voiced frustration over mistakes in final passes and shots on goal.
Several club officials also commented on the lack of quality forwards, highlighting the upcoming January transfer window as a crucial period to strengthen the attack. Nonetheless, they praised East Bengal’s head coach, Bruzon, for his effective tactics to thwart their attacks, despite being down to nine men.
Hence, this performance was a testament to East Bengal’s resilience and fighting spirit. With growing support from fans and improvements on the pitch, the team looks to build momentum for the rest of the season. While ‘Black Panthers’ will aim to resolve their goal scoring issues swiftly to get their season back on track.
Also Read: Down to nine men for over an hour, East Bengal salvages 0-0 Draw Against Mohammedan Sporting