East Bengal’s Losing Streak Continues as Former Player’s Hat-Trick Sinks Them

Sayak Banerjee | 28-Sep 2024

East Bengal’s woes seem endless. After back-to-back defeats, they faced Goa on Sunday, hoping to turn their fortunes around. However, even with a spirited fight, Carlos Cuadrat’s side fell short once again, losing 3-2 at home.

Cuadrat’s lineup against Goa raised eyebrows, influenced by injuries and recent form. Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill, underwhelming in the previous match, was replaced by the experienced Debjit Majumder. Striker Clayton Silva returned to lead the attack, while Héctor Yuste was deployed in midfield in a tactical reshuffle. Souvik Chakrabarti was shifted to full-back in an effort to fortify the defense.

Despite these changes, East Bengal faltered. Goa’s star and former East Bengal player, Brandon Fernandes, delivered a stunning hat-trick, exposing defensive lapses. Clayton Silva kept East Bengal’s hopes alive with a goal in the 32nd minute, followed by another strike by Nandhakumar Sekar in the 74th minute, but Brandon’s clinical finishing sealed the deal for Goa.

With three consecutive defeats, East Bengal remains rooted at the bottom of the ISL table, searching for answers as their supporters grow increasingly frustrated. The team now faces a daunting task to bounce back and salvage their campaign.