East Bengal FC Earns Second Consecutive Victory in Kalinga Super Cup

East Bengal FC recorded a comfortable 2-1 victory over Sreenidi Deccan in the Group A match of the Kalinga Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Scoring for East Bengal were Hijazi Maher and Javier Siverio, while William Alves de Oliveira netted for Deccan Warriors.

The win sealed East Bengal’s place in the semi-finals and set the stage for an eagerly awaited derby against Mohun Bagan Super Giant on January 19. With both teams having six points and an identical goal difference, the upcoming match holds great significance to determine the group winner.

Entering the match with a must-win mindset, East Bengal swiftly took control. Maher opened the scoring by heading home a well-placed free kick from Nishu Kumar. The second goal came via a team effort, as Maher set up Cleiton Silva, who then found Siverio with a clever pass, leading to a deflected shot that found the net.

In the second half, East Bengal maintained their dominance and created several opportunities, but Sreenidi Deccan’s goalkeeper Aryan Niraj Lamba made crucial saves to deny them. However, Deccan Warriors managed to reduce the deficit late in the game through a penalty converted by Oliveira.

The victory solidifies East Bengal’s strong form in the tournament and adds excitement to the upcoming clash against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant. It promises to be a thrilling encounter as the two teams battle for a place in the tournament’s semi-finals.