East Bengal FC produced a commanding comeback performance to defeat Sporting Club Delhi 4–1 in Gameweek 2 of the Indian Super League 2025–26 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday, February 21.
The Red and Gold Brigade overturned an early deficit with authority to register their second consecutive win of the campaign and move provisionally to the top of the table with six points from two matches.
Despite entering the contest as favourites after their opening-round victory, East Bengal found themselves trailing against the run of play in just the fourth minute. A swift transition led by Mohammed Aimen opened up the East Bengal defence, allowing Augustine Lalrochana to finish clinically from inside the box and hand Sporting Club Delhi an early lead.
However, the hosts responded almost immediately to restore parity. Just three minutes later, Edmund Lalrindika capitalised on a loose clearance from a set-piece situation, unleashing a powerful volley from outside the area that beat Vishal Yadav to make it 1–1. The equaliser injected urgency into East Bengal’s attacking play as they began to assert control over proceedings.
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Their dominance was soon rewarded when Clarence Fernandes brought down an East Bengal attacker inside the penalty area in the 12th minute. Youssef Ezzejjari stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly converted, giving the hosts a 2–1 advantage and completing a rapid turnaround.
With the momentum firmly in their favour, East Bengal continued to press forward in search of a third goal. Jay Gupta went close with a header, while Ezzejjari himself was denied from close range by an alert Vishal Yadav as the visitors struggled to contain the hosts’ attacking intensity.
Photo: Dipayan Bose /Focus Sports/ ISL
The breakthrough eventually came five minutes before the interval when Miguel Figueira threaded a precise through ball into the path of Ezzejjari. The Moroccan striker showed composure inside the box, slipping the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to extend East Bengal’s lead to 3–1 heading into half-time.
Sporting Club Delhi attempted to mount a response after the restart, introducing fresh legs in a bid to regain control. Matija Babović and Joseph Sunny both came close to reducing the deficit, with the latter’s header drawing a save from East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill. Manoj Mohammed also provided width and delivery from the left flank, but the visitors were unable to find the finishing touch in the final third.
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East Bengal, meanwhile, adopted a more measured approach in the closing stages, focusing on maintaining possession and managing the tempo of the game. Gill was called into action once more to deny Ramhlunchhunga as Delhi pushed forward in search of a way back into the contest.
Any lingering hopes of a comeback were extinguished deep into stoppage time when Miguel Figueira added the finishing touch to an impressive team display. The Portuguese attacker curled a left-footed strike into the top corner in the 90+5th minute, sealing a comprehensive 4–1 victory for the hosts.
Ezzejjari’s brace earned him the Player of the Match award as East Bengal’s attacking unit once again delivered a clinical performance. The result not only extended their winning start to the season but also underlined their attacking depth and ability to respond decisively under pressure.
With six points from their opening two matches, East Bengal FC have made an early statement in the ISL 2025–26 campaign, showcasing both resilience and attacking efficiency as they continue their push for consistency in a tightly contested league season.
