The Indian Super League title race hit a massive roadblock Thursday as East Bengal FC and Bengaluru FC fought to a chaotic 3-3 draw. Playing a man down for over 70 minutes, East Bengal snatched a point deep in stoppage time at Salt Lake Stadium. The result keeps both clubs tied at 15 points, preventing either from overtaking Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the standings.
Ashique Kuruniyan struck first for Bengaluru in the 12th minute. East Bengal answered fast. Anwar Ali executed a spectacular bicycle kick in the 21st minute to tie the match. Then disaster struck the home side. Portuguese midfielder Miguel Figueira saw a controversial straight red card in the 25th minute. Bengaluru capitalized immediately. Suresh Singh Wangjam found the net just before halftime to take a 2-1 lead.
Down a man, the Red and Gold Brigade refused to fold. Saul Crespo pulled East Bengal level in the 55th minute. Bengaluru looked to have finally buried the home side when Ryan Williams curled in a tight-angle shot in the 71st minute, according to a match summary from Outlook India. The visitors tried to kill the clock. They failed. In the seventh minute of added time, substitute Anton Sojberg connected with a Bipin Singh cross to drive home the final equalizer.
The late heroics kept East Bengal’s title hopes alive in a crowded sports news cycle, a sentiment echoed by ANI News ahead of the fixture. Fans tracked the dramatic momentum swings through NDTV’s live match center as the final minutes ticked down.
How the Kolkata Draw Reshapes the ISL Title Race
The stalemate in Kolkata sends shockwaves through the top of the ISL table. Both East Bengal and Bengaluru entered the match desperate for three points to break out of a mid-table gridlock. Instead, the shared points leave them frustrated while directly benefiting league leaders Jamshedpur FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
Bengaluru head coach Pep Munoz now faces intense scrutiny. His squad failed to close out a victory despite holding a one-man advantage for the majority of the match. For East Bengal, surviving the red card preserves their critical goal-differential metrics. They remain a massive threat in the title chase despite the dropped points at home.