East Bengal beat Bengaluru 1-0, continue unbeaten run

Margao (Goa), Jan 9 : Matti Steinmann’s first-half strike proved to be the difference as SC East Bengal edged past Bengaluru FC 1-0 to record their second win of the Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday.
The Kolkata side are now unbeaten in their last five games while Bengaluru’s misery continued with their fourth consecutive defeat this season.
Erik Paartalu returned to the starting XI after serving his one-match suspension as Naushad Moosa made four changes in his first game as interim coach. While Udanta Singh started as well, Moosa handed first start to the defenders Parag Srivas and Ajith Kumar.
EB made just one change with Jacques Maghoma replacing Aaron Amadi-Holloway. Skipper Daniel Fox made the line-up after his red card against FC Goa was earlier overturned.
Bengaluru had early chances in the game but struggled to get the goals. First, it was Sunil Chhetri, whose lob-shot over the rival defense was easily dealt with by Debjit Majumder. Cleiton Silva soon had a chance to put his side ahead in the 15th minute. But the Brazilian failed to direct his header at the goal after Juan Antonio Gonzalez had pushed Parag Shrivas’ long throw-in in the box.
Steinmann put EB in the lead in the 20th minute with a fine outside-foot finish. Ankit Mukherjee’s cross was not dealt with cleanly by Ajith and Juanan and it found Narayan Das on the left. Narayan then played a low cross to Steinmann in the middle, and he scored his third of the season.