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Nikolaos Karelis netted a brace as Mumbai City FC beat East Bengal FC 3-2 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League.
Nikolaos Karelis. (X)
Mumbai City FC defeated East Bengal FC 3-2 in the 2024-25 Indian Super League at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Monday.
Nikolaos Karelis netted a brace as the Islanders edged out the Torchbearers.
Petr Kratky decided to change things for Lallianzuala Chhangte, lining him up in advanced mid-field alongside Brandon Fernandes. Anwar Ali continued in mid-field too for East Bengal.
It was East Bengal right-back Provat Lakra who constantly found himself out of position as Vikram Partap Singh made merry down the flank. The Indian youngster had a couple of good chances to get his side the lead and even put the ball in the back of the net albeit a minute after the whistle had gone for off-side.
Nikolaos Karelis had a golden chance to take the lead just before the water break.
Bipin Singh had been threatening on the far right and won a corner, which Yoell van Nieff took. Tiri cushioned the ball back in the direction it came from as the header from Karelis was somehow cleared off the line by Hector Yuste.
Chhangte was the one who found the breakthrough in the 39th minute.
Vikram bounced the ball past Provat to Brandon, who in turn powered through the middle and sent his club captain free through. Karelis had drawn both central defenders as Chhangte slotted the ball past Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.
Karelis got a goal of his own soon after. Van Nieff sent in a long ball in hope as Hijazi Maher was out of position and Hector just could not keep up in pace with the Mumbai City forward. The Greek number nine was the first to reach the ball and poked it past the keeper to double their lead in the 43rd minute.
East Bengal were lucky not to concede more as Gill made two stunning saves on either side of the half-time whistle, denying Karelis twice.
Oscar Bruzon decided to attack instead, bringing on Mahesh Naorem and Nishu Kumar.
Jeakson Singh came close with his long-range shot just going over the bar after the ball bounced around in the Mumbai City penalty box.
Another pinball inside the penalty box yielded a goal for East Bengal. In the 66th minute, Mahesh’s shot was saved by Rehenesh TP but the ball fell to the feet of PV Vishnu, who cut-back was turned in by Sahil Panwar.
David Lalhlansanga got East Bengal level in the 83rd with a sublime finish.
Cleiton Silva was cleared but the ball back into the box was headed down by Yuste as David slotted the ball into the corner with a left-footed shot.
The celebrations had not ended in the stands as Mumbai City FC got their lead back. A mistake by Hijazi meant Karelis was through on goal with only the keeper to beat from a Nathan Rodrigues long ball. The Greek finished off his chance to break East Bengal hearts.
- Location :
Kolkata [Calcutta], India