Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium witnessed a dramatic turn of events in the 1000th match of the Indian Super League (ISL) as East Bengal held on for a 0-0 draw against Mohammedan Sporting despite being reduced to nine men for over an hour.
The match started with both teams testing each other’s defenses, but the game took a chaotic turn in the 29th and 30th minutes. East Bengal’s Nandhakumar Sekar was sent off for retaliation after a scuffle with Mohammedan Sporting’s Amarjit Singh Kiyam, while Mahesh Naorem received a second yellow card for kicking a water bottle.
With only nine players on the field, East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon’s plans were shattered. However, the team showed remarkable resilience, defending resolutely and frustrating Mohammedan Sporting’s attempts to break through. Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill and central defender Hijazi Maher were particularly impressive, making crucial saves and blocks.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, East Bengal’s fans rallied behind their team, their roars growing louder with every minute they kept the scoreline at 0-0. Mohammedan Sporting, who have struggled to score goals this season, found it difficult to penetrate East Bengal’s defense, which was bolstered by the tireless efforts of Dimitrios Diamantakos up front.
The draw feels like a victory for East Bengal, who had lost their first six matches of the season. It could be a turning point for the team, which is the only Indian club still competing in an Asian competition.
