ISL 2023-24: Mistakes Galore as East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC Play Out Goalless Draw – News18

East Bengal and Jamshedpur FC played out a goalless draw in the 2023-24 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on Monday.

East Bengal started the game brightly as Jamshedpur were more than happy to play the counter-attacking game.

In the 3rd minute, Jose Antonio Pardo’s cross into the box found his East Bengal teammate Javi Siverio, whose shot from the centre of the box was just wide. Two minutes later, Jamshedpur FC’s Elsinho missed with his header not being on target. Come the 14th minute, Siverio was the target again from Mahesh Singh but Jamshedpur’s Elsinho got a telling touch.

Asian Games 2023: Medal Tally,  Schedule, Results, Date, Venues & More

It was not all East Bengal as every time they lost the ball Jamshedpur sprung a prompt counter. In the 19th minute, Nikhil Barla dribbled past his marker with surprising ease and sent the cross over to Chima Chukwu. He showed great strength but could not get the shot away as Jeremy Manzorro took over but his effort too was wide.

The game stagnated in the mid-field eventually only Pronay Halder to get into a tussle with Harmanjot Khabra, for which the former got a yellow card.

In the 35th minute, Nongdamba Naorem did well to lose his marker with a sudden turn of pace but held onto the ball too long for the attack to fizzle out inside the box. Three minutes later, Siverio almost gave East Bengal the lead after Borja sent in a dangerous cross from left but the forward ended up poking the ball over keeper TP Rehenesh and the crossbar.

In the closing minutes before half-time, East Bengal had a barrage of shots on goal but Rehenesh stood tall and got down with equal dexterity to deny efforts from Borja and Naorem as Souvik Chakrabarti eventually shot over.

After the restart, Jamshedpur started the second half with attacking intent.

But in the 48th minute, Jose Pardo launched a ball into the box from a free-kick. Chowdhary managed to clear the ball as the East Bengal players called for a handball. The referee waved play on but replays showed the ball hand indeed touched the hand.

Three minutes later Pronay’s snap shot with the outside of his boot managed to ruffle just the side netting.

Around the hour mark, both coaches made wholesale changes with their substitutions. More changes followed after the water break with only Rehenesh being injured in between.

In the 82nd minute, Semboi Haokip’s right-footed shot was just wide. A minute earlier Cleiton Silva’s free-kick was wasted.

In added minutes after the end of 90, Saul Crespo pushed Emil Benny off the ball as their teammates came to their aid. The referee showed Benny a red card and then later turned it into a yellow. Crespo too was shown a yellow.

The game strolled to a stop with the final three blows of the whistle from the referee.