Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 15 (ANI): In an electrifying start to their Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign, Bengaluru FC (BFC) clinched a narrow 1-0 victory over East Bengal FC (EBFC) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. The decisive moment of the match came courtesy of a brilliant goal by Vinith Venkatesh, whose single strike separated the two fiercely competitive sides.

The match began with both teams exhibiting a cautious approach, marked by numerous tackles aimed at disrupting each other’s momentum. Within the first few minutes, East Bengal’s Nandha Kumar was booked for a reckless challenge on Suresh Wangjam, setting the tone for a physically intense encounter. The disciplinary action didn’t stop there, as Lalchungnunga and Hector Yuste also found themselves in the referee’s book for aggressive plays.

The first significant chance of the game emerged when Jeakson Singh intercepted a loose ball just outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot. Bengaluru FC’s goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, was forced to make an impressive save to keep the scoreline intact.

Bengaluru FC responded six minutes later with an opportunity of their own. Roshan Singh dispossessed Mohammed Rakip in a dangerous position, initiating a swift counterattack. He passed to Edgar Mendez, who, rather than returning the ball, opted to test East Bengal’s goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill from long range. Unfortunately for BFC, Mendez’s shot narrowly missed the target.

The breakthrough finally came in the 26th minute when Edgar Mendez orchestrated a superb play, finding Vinith Venkatesh in space on the right wing. Venkatesh skillfully created room with a deft touch and then fired a precise shot into the bottom corner, giving Bengaluru FC a crucial lead.

The second half mirrored the first in its intensity, with both teams engaging in aggressive battles, particularly in midfield. East Bengal had a golden opportunity to level the score when Hijazi Maher set up Nandha Kumar, but his powerful shot from just outside the box was expertly saved by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

In a bid to turn the tide, Carles Cuadrat introduced star signing Madih Talal in place of Dimitrios Diamantakos in the 57th minute. Gerard Zaragoza also made strategic substitutions, bringing on Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Ryan Williams to bolster their attacking options.

The substitutions nearly paid off in the 69th minute when Diaz found the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside. On the opposite end, substitute Vishnu PV combined effectively with Talal, but Vishnu’s shot lacked the power to trouble Gurpreet.

East Bengal continued to press forward in search of an equalizer. Cleiton Silva found himself in a promising position but blasted his shot well over the crossbar. Their hopes of securing a point suffered a significant blow in the 87th minute when Lalchungnunga received his second yellow card for a poor challenge on Williams and was subsequently sent off.

Despite several promising openings throughout the match, East Bengal FC ultimately fell short. Vinith Venkatesh’s fairy tale ISL debut proved decisive. The 19-year-old academy graduate not only scored the winning goal but also demonstrated impressive composure with a 77% passing accuracy during his 45 minutes on the pitch.

Looking ahead, East Bengal FC will travel to Kochi to face Kerala Blasters on September 22. Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC will host Hyderabad FC on September 19 as they continue their ISL 2024-25 journey.