East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan SG will play against Hyderabad FC and Srinidhi Deccan Football Club in the Kalinga Super Cup on January 9.The opening day of the Kalinga Super Cup promises excitement with the participation of Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC. East Bengal FC will face Hyderabad FC in the opening match on Tuesday, followed by Mohun Bagan SG Srinidhi Deccan FC. The winners of this edition ensure direct entry into the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2 group stages, prompting all teams to start on a positive note.Hyderabad FC will aim to regain their form when they take on East Bengal FC in the opening match of the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup. They are the only team yet to win the ISL 2023-24 season and are currently on an 11-match unbeaten streak. While Hyderabad FC has had a tough start, East Bengal FC has been performing well in recent times. They are unbeaten in their last five ISL matches. Carl's Quadrat's men displayed defensive solidity and resilience which helped them concede the second-fewest goals this ISL season behind FC Goa. The Kolkata-based club will be looking for a win to start the tournament with positive vibes. The last meetings between East Bengal FC and Hyderabad FC ended with a score line of 2-1 in favor of the Red & Gold Brigade. The match between East Bengal FC and Hyderabad FC will be telecast live on Jio Cinema at 2 PM. (IST).
Mohun Bagan SG Srinidhi takes on Deccan FC Test
In the second match on the opening day, Mohun Bagan SG will also take on I-League side Srinidhi Deccan FC. It's a fresh start for the Mariners, who are looking to regain confidence after the departure of former coach Juan Ferrando, replaced by Antonio López Habas. Mohun Bagan SG have won their first five matches of the current ISL campaign, becoming the first club to do so. However, the year ended on a sour note for the Mariners as they lost three straight games. Ferrando was dismissed soon after. Mohun Bagan SG will be without several Indian players who will be participating in the AFC Cup, which makes the encounter even more challenging. East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan SG started their Kalinga Super Cup journey with wins against Hyderabad FC and Srinidhi Deccan FC respectively. The first day of the Kalinga Super Cup brought victory to the Kolkata giants. The Red and Gold Brigade secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Hyderabad FC, followed by the Mariners' 2-1 comeback win over I-League side Srinidhi Deccan FC.East Bengal FC will face Srinidhi Deccan FC on January 14 and Mohun Bagan will face SG Hyderabad FC on the same day.
Silva brace and Crespo's late strike lift East Bengal FC past Hyderabad FC
East Bengal FC started their Kalinga Super Cup 2024 campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Hyderabad FC. The match featured end-to-end action from the first minute, with both teams having plenty of chances and turning it into a goal-scoring fest. Clayton Silva's brace, along with Saul Crespo's timely header, sealed victory for the Kolkata-based club. Ramhlunchunga and Nim Dorjee Tamang leveled the scoreline twice for Hyderabad FC but failed to find the equalizer for the third time.Captain Silva led the Red and Gold Brigade from the front and played a crucial role in his side's attacking line, helping them start the tournament with three points. The 36-year-old Brazilian striker broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, capitalizing on his presence in the box to deliver a precise finish. The goal came from a beautiful sequence involving Mohammad Rakip and Nandakumar Sekar, which culminated in a defense-splitting run by Silva to give East Bengal FC the lead. Just before half-time, Ramhlunchunga's goal equalized for the opposition. East Bengal FC quickly regained the lead after half-time with Silva's trademark finish from a set-piece. Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani had no answer to Silva's powerful right-foot curling strike. Fielding an all-Indian line-up, Thingboy Singto's side showed considerable promise throughout the match, making it an interesting encounter. Singto's men reaped the rewards of their continued pressure in the 78th minute when Tamang converted a spot-kick to bring the game back into the open. However, in the end, super sub Crespo sealed the win for East Bengal FC with his well-timed header in the 80th minute. Later in the game, head coach Carles Cudrat brought in Ajay Chhetri and Edwin Sidney Wanspoel to bolster his midfield, eventually securing victory for his side in the opening game of the Kalinga Super Cup.Mohun Bagan SG made a comeback against Srinidhi Deccan
Goals from Jason Cummings and Armando Sadiku lead Mohun Bagan SG to victory over Srinidhi Deccan FC. William Alves Oliveira Srinidhi gave Deccan FC the lead in the 28th minute with a cool and composed penalty. Cummings capitalized on his presence in the box to equalize in the closing minutes of the first half. Sadiku's subsequent strike proved decisive, securing a hard-fought win for 10-man Mohun Bagan SG.The Mariners applied constant pressure from the start of the match but struggled to convert their chances. Srinidhi Deccan FC came close to scoring in the 17th minute with Lalromavia's long range goal. Srinidhi Deccan FC were awarded a penalty in the 27th minute after Sumit Rathi fouled Lalromavia inside the box. Oliveira made no mistake in putting his team ahead in the game. Despite continued pressure, it was for the Mariners to level before the break. Abhishek Suryavanshi's looping effort hit the crossbar, Cummings capitalized on the rebound and found the back of the net. Dimitrios Petratos and Hugo Baumas displayed their creative skills and maturity on the pitch, allowing Mohun Bagan SG to take control of the match in the second half. The marines immediately began their offensive. Sadiku's long-range strike in the 50th minute narrowly missed the target, but a goal in the 71st minute sealed the win for Mohun Bagan SG. A beautiful combination play between Baumus and Ashish Rai started the move and Rai's perfect cross opened the scoring for Sadiku who tapped in to give the Mariners a crucial lead. Despite Suryavanshi receiving a second yellow card and being sent off in the 86th minute, Mohun Bagan SG maintained their lead and secured three valuable points to start their campaign.