In a week, the two city rivals, Mohammedan SC and East Bengal FC, will lock horns in the much-anticipated Kolkata Derby. However, both teams are heading into the clash on the back of disappointing performances, having hit rock bottom in their respective fixtures.
On Saturday, Mohammedan succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Hyderabad FC, while later on in the day, East Bengal suffered a 3-0 home loss to Chennaiyin FC.
For Mohammedan, their playoff hopes were dashed long ago, but East Bengal still had a glimmer of a chance for a top-six finish in the ISL table. However, after their crushing defeat, the Red and Gold Brigade’s chances of making the playoffs have also faded.
Currently sitting in 11th place, with 18 points from 19 games, East Bengal can now only hope for a respectable finish to the season. Since Oscar Bruzon’s arrival, the team has shown promising signs, despite multiple key players being sidelined due to injuries and suspensions. The players have displayed resilience, but against Chennaiyin, their performance was lacklustre—reminiscent of their struggles in the first phase of the ISL campaign, where they suffered six consecutive losses.
With key players like Saul Crespo, Anwar Ali, and Mohammed Rakip returning from injury, along with the addition of new overseas signing Raphael Messi Bouli, East Bengal was hoping to finish the season on a strong note. However, the heavy defeat against Chennaiyin has dealt a severe blow to the squad’s morale. Head coach Bruzon admitted that the result could have a psychological impact on the players.
“Today’s defeat has dealt a big blow to our morale. Losing at home to a team with the same points as us is tough. Next week, we have the Kolkata Derby, which is now our most important match,” said Oscar after the match.
Mohammedan, on the other hand, started brightly against Hyderabad but faltered as the game progressed. Their goalkeeper, Bhaskar Roy, was at fault for the opening goal, failing to stop a weak shot from Alan Paulista inside the box.
“For the first goal, a good ball came from a Hyderabad player, and it was well controlled. The first touch was also decent. However, I believe it could have been stopped because the ball touched the goalkeeper’s hand. So, I would say it was saveable,” said Mohammedan’s interim coach, Mehrajjuddin Wadoo, after the game.
With their season all but over, and after a humiliating derby defeat against Mohun Bagan SG in their previous encounter, Mohammedan will look to salvage some pride against East Bengal. The team has also been dealing with multiple off-field controversies, adding further challenges.
“The next match is extremely important for us because it’s the Kolkata Derby. We must ensure that the boys give their best performance in this game. These last four or five matches are crucial for us, for the fans, and for the club’s prestige. Personally, I don’t want us to finish at the very bottom of the points table at the end of the season,” Wadoo added.
East Bengal will be without key defender Lalchungnunga, who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards within 30 seconds against Chennaiyin. However, defensive midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti will return after serving his suspension. Anwar, who played only a few minutes against Chennaiyin after recovering from injury, is expected to start against Mohammedan. Meanwhile, their new Cameroonian signing, Raphael Messi Bouli, who made a brief second-half appearance just a day after arriving in Kolkata, is likely to feature prominently in Bruzon’s plans.
With both teams out of the playoff race, the upcoming derby may not have much significance in terms of standings, but it still promises to be a tense encounter. Both sides will be eager to give their fans something to cheer about as they battle for city supremacy.
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