Indian Super League 2024-25: East Bengal vs Bengaluru FC Ends in 1-1 Draw

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The Indian Super League 2024-25 season has been a thrilling ride for football fans, with each match bringing its own set of surprises and twists. One such match was the recent encounter between East Bengal and Bengaluru FC, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The match, played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, saw East Bengal take an early lead through Raphael Messi Bouli, only to be cancelled out by a late penalty conversion from Sunil Chhetri.

The match began with East Bengal creating several scoring opportunities, with Messi Bouli finally breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute. The Cameroonian forward scored an opportunistic goal, capitalizing on a duel between EBFC midfielder Saul Crespo and Bengaluru defender Fanai near the latter's box. Despite creating several chances, East Bengal failed to extend its lead, with Vishnu Puthiya Valappill and Dimitrios Diamantakos missing out on scoring opportunities. The defensive line of Bengaluru FC held strong, denying East Bengal any further goals.

The turning point of the match came when Diamantakos was given a red card in the added time of the first half, reducing East Bengal to 10 men. Bengaluru FC capitalized on the numerical advantage, intensifying its efforts to level the score. The visiting team applied significant pressure on East Bengal's defence, but the home team's resolute defensive line held strong. Despite several close calls, including a shot from Siva Sakthi that hit the woodwork, Bengaluru FC struggled to find the equalizing goal. The pressure finally paid off in the 90th minute when a controversial handball decision went against East Bengal, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded to Bengaluru FC.

The penalty was converted by Chhetri, who sent the ball past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill to end East Bengal's play-off dreams. The result saw Bengaluru FC reclaiming third place in the current standings with 38 points from 23 matches, while East Bengal remained in the eighth spot with 28 points from 23 matches. The draw also ended East Bengal's playoffs aspirations, with the team unable to catch up with the sixth-placed NorthEast United FC. The match highlights can be seen in the following list:

• East Bengal FC 1 (Raphael Messi Bouli 11')
• Bengaluru FC 1 (Sunil Chhetri 90'+2')

1. Bengaluru FC - 38 points from 23 matches
2. East Bengal FC - 28 points from 23 matches

The Indian Super League 2024-25 season has been a thrilling ride, with each match bringing its own set of surprises and twists. The recent encounter between East Bengal and Bengaluru FC was no exception, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. The result has significant implications for the playoffs, with Bengaluru FC reclaiming third place and East Bengal's playoffs aspirations coming to an end. As the season progresses, fans can expect more exciting matches and unexpected twists, making the Indian Super League 2024-25 a must-watch for football enthusiasts.