ISL 2023-24: Chhetri, Javi score as Bengaluru FC beat East Bengal by 2-1

East Bengal stumbled at the beginning of the ISL season. The Red & Gold Brigade lost the first away match of the season. Carles Cuadrat's side failed to win the match after getting the lead early in the game. Sunil Chhetri scored the equalizer and then Javi scored a brilliant winner to clinch the victory.

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The first goal chance of the match came to Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri's shot was somehow blocked by Lalchungnunga. However, the Red & Gold brigade started a counterattack soon after. After 15 minutes, Mahesh hooked the ball into the goal net from Nandar Durant's pass. Naorem Mahesh's goal gave the lead to the away side. But that happiness didn't last long. Bengaluru FC's Sunil Chhetri was unnecessarily tackled and given an easy penalty by Mandar in the 20th minute. The Indian captain redeemed the goal from that penalty. 1-1 ended the first half of the match.

Quadrat made Bengaluru FC the champion. However, before playing against the old team, the coach himself said that East Bengal is going to face a tough test. However, Mahesh Singh was very confident after winning the last minute in the previous match. From the beginning of the match, Nandakumar's game was trying to show power. But in the end that groove was lost from East Bengal's game.

After halftime both teams were desperate to score. Nanda scored from Clayton's free kick but it was ruled out for offside. East Bengal attacked several more times but could not score in the end. On the other hand, Javi Hernandez hit a quick bicycle kick from Sunil's head in the 72nd minute. There the fate of the match was decided. After falling behind, East Bengal could not return to the match.