East Bengal secured their first hattrick of wins in the ISL, defeating Hyderabad FC 2-0 in a thrilling encounter at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan. An own goal from Manoj Mohammad and a brilliant solo effort from Raphael Messi Bouli in stoppage time sealed the victory after an intense end-to-end battle.
Coming off back-to-back wins against Punjab FC and Mohammedan SC, East Bengal couldn’t replicate their dominant performances from the last two matches. However, their persistence paid off, as two late goals kept their slim playoff hopes alive and provided a confidence boost ahead of their AFC Challenge League quarter-final clash against Arkadag of Turkmenistan next week.
Both teams showed attacking intent from the start. East Bengal focused on creating chances from the flanks, while Hyderabad FC attempted to break through the middle. However, neither side could capitalise inside the box.
Just before half–time, Edmilson Correia came close to giving Hyderabad the lead with a thunderous free-kick that rattled the inside of the post. This near-miss meant the teams headed into the break goalless.
East Bengal started the second half with greater urgency. Eight minutes after the restart, Bouli struck the left post with a powerful shot from the right side. Seeking more attacking options, coach Oscar Bruzon introduced Richard Celis on the left wing in place of Nishu Kumar, while Provat Lakra replaced Hector Yuste in defence.
In the 57th minute, Mahesh Naorem created a golden opportunity after dribbling past his marker at the edge of the box, but his shot sailed off the target.
East Bengal missed another golden chance in the 72nd minute when Dimitrios Diamantakos found himself in front of an open net. A deflected corner from Mahesh landed perfectly for the Greek striker, but he misjudged the flight and failed to convert.
Bruzon then brought on David Lalhlansanga in place of Diamantakos, and the substitution injected fresh energy into East Bengal’s attack. Their relentless pressure paid off in the 85th minute when David flicked a Richard Celis corner, forcing a deflection off Hyderabad’s Manoj and into the net. Ironically, Manoj had denied East Bengal a win with a last-minute equaliser in their previous meeting. But this time, his own goal handed East Bengal the advantage.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Bouli put the game to bed with a stunning solo effort. A long clearance from Saul Crespo found Bouli in midfield, and the Cameroonian forward used his physical strength to outmuscle his marker before drilling the ball into the bottom left corner.
East Bengal now prepare to face Bengaluru FC on March 2 before taking on Turkmenistan’s Arkadag in the home leg of the AFC Challenge League. With three consecutive wins under their belt, the Red and Gold brigade have gained significant momentum at a crucial stage of the season.