In freezing temperatures at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium, East Bengal Club under coach Oscar Bruzon recorded its first victory of the season with an emphatic 4-0 win over Bashundhara Kings in the AFC Challenge League.
The resounding victory not only ended East Bengal’s winless streak but also marked Bruzon’s maiden triumph since taking charge of the Indian Super League (ISL) side.
The Red and Gold Brigade entered the match after a 2-2 draw against Paro FC, determined to secure three crucial points. East Bengal wasted no time as Dimitrios Diamantakos opened the scoring within 30 seconds, converting a pinpoint pass from Lalchungnunga with a smooth first-touch strike that put them on the front foot from the very start.
Throughout the first half, East Bengal skillfully exploited Bashundhara’s defensive weaknesses, using a midfield-heavy approach that pressured the opposition and restricted their time on the ball. In the 20th minute, midfielder Souvik Chakrabarti, making his first start of the competition, unleashed a powerful strike to double East Bengal’s lead.
The momentum continued just six minutes later when winger Nandhakumar Sekar scored the third goal, adding to the team’s tally. The goals didn’t stop there, as Anwar Ali, in his debut goal for East Bengal, netted the fourth with an impressive finish in the 33rd minute. The comprehensive first-half performance left Bashundhara scrambling to find their rhythm, as they trailed significantly before halftime.
Bashundhara Kings struggled to respond, with their best chance in the first half falling to Jonathan Reis, who missed the target in the 40th minute. In the second half, East Bengal made a few strategic substitutions, with Cleiton Silva replacing Diamantakos. Silva nearly added to the score in the 51st minute, but his chipped effort was skillfully saved by Bashundhara’s goalkeeper Anisur Rahman.
Despite a few opportunities in the second half, Bashundhara Kings failed to find the net, with Reis’ powerful 82nd-minute shot hitting the goalpost. The defeat ultimately eliminated the Bangladesh-based side from the AFC Challenge League, sealing their exit from the competition.
The victory positions East Bengal second in Group A with four points, trailing Lebanon’s Nejmeh SC, whom they will face on November 1. A win in the upcoming clash could significantly boost East Bengal’s prospects in the tournament and solidify Bruzon’s reputation at the helm.
