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East Bengal won the opening match with ease:
East Bengal secured a comfortable victory in their opening match of the IFA Shield 2025 against Sreenidi Deccan. The game took place at Kalyani Stadium, where East Bengal triumphed in the group stage match with a score of 4-0. The goals were netted by Jay Gupta, Saúl Crespo, Hamid Ahadad, and Jeakson Singh. Although Sreenidi Deccan is not considered a formidable opponent, a significant win boosts the team’s confidence regardless of the rival. East Bengal showed respect for Sreenidi Deccan, evident from the starting eleven chosen for the match. Coach Óscar Bruzón included four foreign players in the lineup: Mohammed Rashid, Saúl Crespo, Miguel Figueira, and Hamid Ahadad.
First-half highlights:
From the outset, East Bengal played an aggressive style of football. They established a 2-0 advantage by halftime. Jay Gupta scored the opening goal for East Bengal in the 21st minute, marking his debut with a goal in his first match. After Sreenidi Deccan’s goalkeeper saved a free-kick from Miguel Figueira, Jay Gupta seized the rebound and scored without hesitation. Saúl Crespo scored the second goal for East Bengal in the 36th minute, heading in a cross delivered by Bipin Singh. Despite having several more chances to score in the first half, East Bengal was unable to convert them. By the end of the first half, East Bengal maintained a 2-0 lead.
Second-half highlights:
East Bengal’s offensive momentum persisted into the second half of the game. East Bengal netted their third goal shortly after the second half commenced. In the 48th minute, Hamid Ahadad found the back of the net for East Bengal with a superb volley from a cross delivered into the penalty area. Just three minutes later, East Bengal extended their advantage. In the 51st minute, Jeakson Singh scored the fourth goal for East Bengal with an excellent header from a corner taken by Saúl Crespo. Similar to the first half, East Bengal squandered multiple scoring chances in the second half as well. East Bengal maintained control throughout the match and triumphed over Sreenidi Deccan with a score of 4-0.
East Bengal’s next match:
East Bengal is set to compete in their second and final group stage match on October 14, facing Namdhari FC. It is anticipated that East Bengal will showcase impressive football in the next match, just as they did in the first, and secure their place in the final as the group champion.
I have uploaded a video on YouTube in Bengali related to the topic discussed in this blog, and you can find the link to that video here: