East Bengal Crush Kalighat SL 4-0 in CFL 2024 to Stay Unbeaten; Inch Closer on Super Six Stage

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East Bengal continued their dominant run in the Calcutta Football League -- CFL 2024 -- Premier Division with a resounding 4-0 victory over Kalighat Sports Lovers (SL) at the East Bengal Ground in Kolkata on August 17.

The league leaders maintained their unbeaten streak, moving to 25 points and solidifying their position atop Group B. Kalighat SL, however, remained stuck in the bottom half of the table, far from the top three places required to qualify for the Super Six stage.

East Bengal took control early in the match, with Jesin TK scoring the opener in the 25th minute. A precise pass from Tanmay Das found Jesin inside the box, and the striker made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net. Despite dominating possession, East Bengal went into halftime with just a 1-0 lead as Kalighat's defence held firm.

The second half saw East Bengal turn up the pressure. In the 56th minute, Edwin Vanspaul doubled the lead with a spectacular long-range strike that left the Kalighat goalkeeper helpless. Vanspaul's effort skimmed the crossbar before finding the net, showcasing his ability from distance. Musharraf provided the assist, controlling the midfield and dictating the game's tempo.

As the game progressed, East Bengal's depth and quality became evident. Ajad Saheem made it 3-0 in the 75th minute with a curling shot that beat the diving goalkeeper. The goal came shortly after Jesin's close-range effort was blocked at the goal line. The hosts showed no mercy as substitute Muhammad Ashique set up Vanspaul for his second goal of the day, a low-driven shot in the 80th minute that sealed the comprehensive victory.

Vanspaul was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match for his brace, especially his thunderous strike that set the tone for the second half. Despite a late injury scare in stoppage time, the midfielder's performance was instrumental in maintaining East Bengal's dominance.

Kalighat SL struggled to create meaningful chances, with their few forays into East Bengal's half being easily thwarted. Their best opportunity came in the first half, but Manglienboi Neihsial's shot went wide. The defeat leaves them with an uphill task to make it to the next stage.

With this win, East Bengal continues to march confidently towards the Super Six, while Kalighat SL faces an increasingly difficult path forward.