East Bengal FC staged a commendable comeback on their home turf, coming from two goals down in the first half to register a 4-2 victory against Punjab FC in the opening fixture of Matchweek 13.

This result marked the first time East Bengal FC turned around a two-goal deficit into a win in the Indian Super League (ISL), having gone winless in each of their previous 31 instances (D1 L30). The Red and Gold Brigade became the first Kolkata side to score four goals in the second half of an ISL game.

Two first-half goals from Asmir Suljić and Ezequiel Vidal handed the visitors a dream start against an East Bengal FC side missing several key players due to injury and suspension. However, Oscar Bruzon’s men demonstrated their resilience and fighting spirit, overcoming all obstacles to secure their third win of the ongoing 2024-25 season.

After the match, East Bengal FC captains Cleiton Silva and Souvik Chakrabarti spoke with indiansuperleague.com, sharing their thoughts on the remarkable comeback win against Punjab FC in Kolkata.

Bruzon introduced PV Vishnu in place of the injured Naorem Mahesh Singh early in the second half. The young winger played a pivotal role in the Red and Gold Brigade’s stunning turnaround, contributing two goals that completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Silva praised their second-half performance, emphasizing how the players showed character in a challenging situation and fought against all difficulties. The Brazilian forward also acknowledged that their first-half performance wasn’t up to standard, which led to the 0-2 scoreline at halftime.

“The first half was really, really bad; we again conceded one goal from throw-in. It's unacceptable; it's a lack of concentration, but in the second half, everything was great again,” he said.

“I think in the second half we changed the attitude. In the first half, we didn't play so well. In the second half, we showed the attitude that East Bengal FC players (should) have,” Silva continued.

It was an uphill task for Bruzon’s men to turn the tide in their favour while trailing by a two-goal deficit against Punjab FC. Despite the absentee list being too large for East Bengal FC, with first-team players like Dimitrios Diamantakos, Madih Talal, Saul Crespo, Jeakson Singh, and others missing the match, a young Indian attacking lineup, led by the experienced Brazilian forward Cleiton Silva showcased their unwavering fighting spirit.

The East Bengal FC captain was asked about the dressing room conversation during the halftime break that completely changed their performance in the second half.

In response, Silva said, “I think it was the attitude, not only the coach's but everybody's. Everybody was thinking that the first half (performance) should not repeat again.”

Since coming on in the 48th minute, Vishnu created several chances down the left flank with his quick bursts of pace and skilful ball control. The Kerala-born winger scored the equalizer in the 54th minute and provided a perfectly timed assist to David Lalhlansanga, leading to East Bengal FC's fourth goal of the match.

Showering praise on the versatile winger’s performance, Silva remarked,

“Vishnu has been playing well in the last matches. But he showed in the second half that 45 minutes is enough for Vishnu to show how good he is.”

Silva didn’t enjoy much game time this season as he was mostly seen coming on as a substitute for Diamantakos. Although he registered his first assist of the season against the Shers, the Brazilian forward is still looking forward to his goal-scoring boots as he is yet to net his first goal this season.

Despite going through a challenging phase, Silva remains optimistic about regaining his form and getting his name on the scoresheet in the upcoming matches.

“I think it's hard without having too many minutes. From the first leg, I did not have so many minutes to play. But now maybe with the injuries and all this, this can be my moment to take my chance and show that I can play the 90 minutes and help the team as well,” Silva commented.

There has always been a fighting spirit in East Bengal FC's history: Souvik Chakrabarti

East Bengal FC’s midfield general, Souvik Chakrabarti, highlighted the club’s fighting spirit over the years, which played a crucial role in their successful turnaround against Punjab FC. The Bengal native played a key role in anchoring the midfield, partnering with Anwar Ali and utilizing his extensive experience and leadership skills, particularly in the absence of Jeakson Singh and Saul Crespo.

Chakrabarti also acknowledged that their first-half performance was not up to standard, but they fought tooth and nail in the second half to turn the result in their favour. While sharing his post-match thoughts, he remarked:

“There has always been a fighting spirit in East Bengal FC's history. In the first half, we didn't give our 100%. In the halftime break, our head coach inspired us a lot so that we could give our 100%. That's how we won the game.”

“In the second half, we tried to give our all from the first to the last and carry on the pride of our club,” he further added.

With that win, East Bengal FC remained in the 11th spot with 10 points from 11 matches but was still eight points behind the playoff spot.

However, Chakrabarti remained optimistic about carrying forward their winning run to reach the ISL playoffs for the first time.

“Obviously (on their chances to qualify for the top six),” he remarked.

“But there is still a lot of time left. We are always hopeful that we can qualify for the top six,” Chakrabarti signed off.

Related tags:

East Bengal FC2024-2025Punjab FC Cleiton SilvaSauvik Chakrabarti