Kolkata: Dimitrios Diamantakos, with his head tilted back, inhaled deeply, appearing incredulous at the turn of events. The previous season's golden boot winner has displayed visible frustration since his transfer from Kerala Blasters to East Bengal this season. The 31-year-old Greek forward has netted only three goals, a significant drop of ten compared to his tally last year. His count could have increased to four had Saul Crespo provided him with a better pass. It would have been acceptable had Crespo converted after making a clever run to connect with Nishu Kumar’s precise free-kick, but the Spaniard misfired.

This occurred in the 55th minute. Just three minutes later, Richard Celis seized a long ball from Lalchungnunga, finding himself in a one-on-one situation with Chennaiyin FC goalkeeper Mohammad Nawaz. The Venezuelan, who had shown glimpses of promise since his winter transfer, faced a critical moment with East Bengal trailing 0-2 and the prospect of a top-six finish at stake. Unfortunately, he squandered the opportunity and buried his face in his shirt in despair.

Daniel Chima Chukwu compounded East Bengal’s woes with a late goal in the 98th minute, ending his own 13-match goal drought. The goal materialized as East Bengal pushed forward, resulting from a deflection following a free kick awarded to the home side, marking a dismal conclusion to the match, which also saw Lalchungnunga receive his third red card of the season. This defeat represented East Bengal's most significant loss at home in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Several factors contribute to East Bengal's disappointing performance this season in the ISL. Injuries to crucial players, insufficient squad depth, and a dismal start with six consecutive losses are among the issues. Additionally, a lack of sharpness and poor decision-making in front of goal have plagued the team. Saturday marked the eighth match in which they failed to score, despite having more than double the number of attempts compared to their opponents. Ultimately, Chennaiyin FC secured a 2-0 victory, keeping their playoff aspirations alive.

In the 13th minute, East Bengal struggled to keep up with Connor Shields, who made a decisive run through the center after Wilmar Jordan was released on the flank. While Greg Stewart exemplifies the finesse required in the final third of the Indian Super League (ISL), Shields represents the relentless effort that every coach desires from their squad. With Souvik Chakrabarti suspended, East Bengal found it challenging to contain Shields in the midfield.

On this occasion, Shields maneuvered around Prabhsukhan Gill, managing to keep the ball in play, which was inadvertently deflected into the net by Nishu Kumar during a sliding attempt to intervene.

By the 21st minute, the score had risen to 2-0, courtesy of Jordan Gill. Chennaiyin FC has a notable history of recruiting impactful Colombian players; in 2015, they had Stiven Mendoza, who currently plays for Club Leon in Mexico's top division. Jordan Gill has now contributed significantly, netting nine of the team's 26 goals. Had his red card against Kerala Blasters not been overturned, he would have been unavailable for this match. He concluded the evening with both a goal and an assist.

Irfan Yadwad displayed the determination that East Bengal notably lacked, particularly in the first half. He diligently tracked back to support right-back PC Laldinpuia and also contributed to offensive plays. In the 40th minute, Yadwad thwarted Diamantakos near the penalty area and subsequently won a corner after advancing down the flank. His assist was pivotal in Jordan Gill's conversion. East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon remarked post-match, “We were repeatedly caught out on the left flank in the first half.”

East Bengal attempted to rectify this with a defensive reshuffle. However, their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, coupled with being vulnerable to counterattacks, resulted in yet another disappointing season. After 19 matches, they have accumulated 18 points, while Chennaiyin FC, known for their late-game comebacks under Owen Coyle, stands at 21 points from 20 matches.

Read Also: Rachin Ravindra Exits Field Bloodied After Face Injury in Pakistan Match

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"