In an exhilarating Matchweek 13 clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday, East Bengal showed remarkable grit and determination to overturn a two-goal deficit and secure a 4-2 victory over Punjab FC.
Punjab dominated the first half, taking a 2-0 lead through clinical strikes from international players Asmir Suljic and Pulga Vidal. However, East Bengal mounted a thrilling comeback after halftime, scoring four unanswered goals to seal an unforgettable win.
The turnaround began just 90 seconds into the second half when Jordanian defender Hijazi Maher headed in a perfectly delivered free-kick from Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva. The goal ignited the home side, with coach Oscar Bruzon’s decision to bring on young talent P.V. Vishnu at halftime proving to be a masterstroke.
Vishnu’s dynamic performance injected pace and creativity into East Bengal’s attack. In the 54th minute, his angular shot deflected off Punjab defender Suresh Meitei and into the net, leveling the score. Moments later, Meitei inadvertently turned a sharp cross from Nandhakumar Sekar into his own goal, giving East Bengal a 3-2 lead by the hour mark.
Punjab’s night worsened when defender K. Lhungdim received a second yellow card in the 64th minute, reducing the team to 10 men. Capitalizing on their numerical advantage, East Bengal sealed the win just four minutes later. Vishnu delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, which forward David Hmar met with a spectacular diving header to make it 4-2.
The victory was East Bengal’s third of the tournament, bringing their tally to 10 points from 11 matches. Despite the win, the team remains in 11th place on the standings. Punjab, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to climb to third and remains in fifth with 18 points from 11 matches.
Coach Bruzon praised his team’s resilience, stating, “This performance shows the character of our players. Injuries and suspensions didn’t hold us back—we fought for this win.”
For Punjab, the loss marked a missed chance and highlighted defensive frailties, particularly after Croatian centre-back Ivan Novoselec exited with an ankle injury.
