Chennai: Lalrindika’s early strike gave them the perfect start, but it was two goals in the dying minutes that sealed a gritty victory for the Red & Gold Brigade.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, East Bengal showed real character as they came from a mid-match lull to defeat Chennaiyin FC 3-1 on Saturday night.
Read Bengali : ISL: বিরতির পর প্রথম অ্যাওয়ে ম্যাচে চেন্নাইয়িনকে হারাল ইস্ট বেঙ্গল
The visitors began brightly, pressing high and playing with sharp intent. In just the 7th minute, Saul Crespo slipped a lovely through ball, and Edmund Lalrindika finished calmly to put East Bengal 1-0 up.
Chennaiyin gradually found their footing. Irfan Yadwad hit the post before equalising in the 28th minute with a delicate chip over the advancing goalkeeper. The first half ended level, and for large parts of the second half, Chennaiyin looked the more dangerous side, creating chances while East Bengal struggled to regain their early rhythm.
Substitutions disrupted the flow further, and as the clock ticked past 75 minutes, it seemed like the points might slip away from the visitors.
Then came the late drama. In the 83rd minute, Bipin Singh rose powerfully to head East Bengal back into the lead. Chennaiyin pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but they were caught on the break. Deep into stoppage time (96th minute), a swift counter-attack saw Miguel Figueira set up Nandhakumar Sekar, who slotted home confidently to make it 3-1.
It wasn’t East Bengal’s most controlled performance, but it was built on resilience and clinical finishing when it mattered most.
The win lifts them to third place in the ISL table, ahead of Mohun Bagan on goal difference.
After the match, goalscorer Edmund Lalrindika summed up the spirit: “I want to win trophies for East Bengal.”
