EBFC 2 - 1 GKFC, Highlights, Durand Cup 2023 quarterfinal: Full-time; EBFC secures semifinal spot

East Bengal books its place in the semifinal of the Durand Cup! A slender 2-1 over Gokulam Kerala FC at the VYBK for East Bengal.

EBFC took the lead within the first minute after a headed goal by Elsey following a corner. Gokulam Kerala’s Bouba equalised with a headed effort but the defender turned a Nishu Kumar cross into his own net to give East Bengal the lead 12 minutes before the end of normal time.

Another chance for Mahesh as he counters, his ball to Cleiton is blocked by the defence and the chance goes begging.

A headed chance for Shijin after a cross from the right wing. No direction on it and it bounces out for a goal kick.

East Bengal having plenty of opportunities to counter. Cleiton Silva was one on one with the keeper momentarily. He tries to head the ball in but doesn’t get enough purchase on it. Goes behind for a goal kick

Vanspaul the subtitute attempts a strong volley from the edge of the box. It was straight at the keeper but he does well to get his fists behind it.

Six minutes of added time.

Mahesh blatantly brought down by Nidhin. Was through on goal if he had escaped the challenge. Yellow cards for the East Bengal assistant coaches as they continue their complaints against the foul.

Cleiton and Pardo attempt a cheeky little short free kick, good attempt but the ball was slightly overhit and it goes behind for a goal kick.

VP Suhair and Mandar Rao Dessai in for East Bengal. Nandha and Nishu are the ones replaced.

Akhil and Shreshta come in for Gokulam Kerala instead of Bouba and Sreekuttan.

Goal!! A ball in from the left wing by Nishu Kumar is headed into his own net by Bouba! Difficult to say if that was an own goal or of Nishu’s cross was actually on target. Let’s wait for official confirmation. EBFC creating a few chances in the last five minutes and getting the all-important lead.

EBFC 2 - 1 GKFC

What a chance! The ball falls to Cleiton Silva, in acres of space in the box but his first time shot doesn’t get the required connection and Moya has an easy save to make.

Rahul Raju and Shijin come in for Gokulam Kerala. They replace captain Alex Sanchez and Abhijith K.

A yellow for goal scorer Aminou Bouba for a foul on Cleiton near the touchline. The following freekick is curled in but Pardo can’t get enough on the header to get it on target.

Can the Brazilian star striker Cleiton Silva take EBFC to the semifinal? The game has gone quiet over the last few minutes, with EBFC unable to create any proper chance after the equaliser.

Another tackle by Vikas, this time in the box, but he gets just enough of the ball ahead of Siverio.

Cleiton Silva replaces Javier Siverio

Vikas down in pain after a tackle by Nandha. Didn’t look like the EBFC forward did much wrong. Just a clash of legs while going for the ball.

Attempted cross in from Nandha from the left wing, too high and far away from any of the forwards. The ball goes out for a throw in.

In: Lucas Pardo Out: Borja Herrera

Goal!! Another excellent header in the game to get the equaliser. Abhijith puts in a great cross from the left wing and Aminou Bouba heads it past the keeper. GKFC back in it.

EBFC 1 - 1 GKFC

GKFC with control of possession as it searches for a reply. Sreekuttan has been able to find some space on the right wing but his final ball has been lacking.

A corner from Gokulam as it looks to find the equaliser. Doesn’t beat the first man and the ball is cleared easily.

Borja Herrera takes the freekick from the edge of the box. Tries to find the near post but misses the target. The keeper had it covered if it was on target.

Mahesh almost through on goal again but he is brought down by Basit. The midfielder has to be careful as he’s already in the book.

Early chance for Mahesh to get the second. An excellent chipped pass from Borja Herrera to find the youngster but his lobbed effort goes over the bar. The onrushing keeper did just enough to put him off.

Gokulam Kerala gets the second half underway at the VYBK.

Credit - X @eastbengal_fc

East Bengal goes into the half-time break with a lead thanks to a first minute goal from Elsey following a corner. The game has very much been in the balance till then with both teams managing 7 shots on goal. Alex came closest to equalising for Gokulam but his shot was saved by Gill. Join us in 15 for the second half.

3 minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the half.

Komron attempts a long ranger from more than 40 yards away. Way, way off target. Could have shown a little more patience there, the left winger.

Excellent play for Sreekuttan down the right wing and his ball into the box falls to Alex. Gill with an excellent save to maintain the EBFC lead.

Komron with an attempted volley from the left side edge of the box after the defender headed the ball away from danger.

Siverio with a chance to double the lead but his header is over the bar. Excellent cross from Souvik at right back, Siverio was running backwards trying to get his head on it, no real direction in the header therefore.

Gokulam with control of the ball, Salam Ranjan does well to jump past the press and the ball is switched to the far end where Komron can’t control it and keep it in play.

Chance!! The shot from the edge of the box bounces off the crossbar following the corner. It was Saul Crespo at the far post to who the corner dropped. Can’t find the net though.

A foul for Gokulam after captain Alex is tugged from behind as he looked to run through the midfield. A short freekick tried but the defenders do well to read the play and clear the ball.

Yellow for Souvik Chakrabarti for a foul on Nili. The ball got away from him and he dangles his foot out, which catches the Gokulam player.

Basit shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Siverio. The studs were in the air as he attempted to get the ball off the striker.

Much better build up play and control of the ball from Gokulam, Nidhin finds some space down the right wing but his cross is wayward and low and is easily cleared.

Gokulam with some control of possession over the last two minutes, but the players give the ball away in midfield, but a sliding block puts the ball away for a throw.

A shot from the edge of the box by Borja Herrera, kept rising and goes high above the crossbar. The build-up play was excellent to find him in space there.

A chance for GKFC but the shot from the edge of the box hits its own player. The ball falls to a Gokulam player but his shot is deflected for a corner.

Naorem Mahesh puts in an excellent ball in from the left wing but Nandha couldn’t control it at the far post. Should have passed it back inwards or gone for a shot.

Corner for Gokulam Kerala but the ball goes out of play before entering into the penalty box. Chance wasted.

The ball back to Gill was short and could have sent the striker free on goal. Gill manages to run forward and slide to reach the ball first. A freekick for GKFC but it is weak and straight at Gill, first shot on target for Gokulam.

East Bengal win the ball back in midfield and Siverio is fouled near the centre circle. Mahesh with some good control to find the striker before he was mowed down.

Goal!!! Elsey scores for EBFC within the first minute. The cross following the initial short corner found Mahesh at the edge of the box who headed it back into the danger area where Elsey was lurking. An excellent header, turning his neck, to get the ball past the keeper and into the net.

EBFC 1 - 0 GKFC

East Bengal get us underway! A corner within the first 30 seconds for EBFC.

A heavy downpour welcomes the teams at the VYBK in Kolkata. East Bengal is sporting its white kit while Gokulam Kerala are in its red kit.

“Gokulam were the champions of their group, so a tough match awaits us at the VYBK tomorrow,” Carles Cuadrat, the head coach of East Bengal, said before the match.

“The stakes are obviously higher in the knockouts, but I believe in taking one match at a time. We faced some strong opponents in the group stage, and doing well against them has boosted our confidence.”

Gokulam Kerala FC: Zothanmawia (GK), Nidhin, Salam, Bouba, Vikas, Alex (C), Basit, Abhijith, Nili, Komron, Sreekuttan

East Bengal FC: Gill (GK), Chungnunga, Khabra (C), S Chakrabarti, Nishu, Borja CJ, Crespo, Mahesh, Elsey, Nandha, Siverio

• East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala FC will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan with the kick-off scheduled at 6:00 pm IST.
  

• The match will be telecated live on Sony Ten 2 and Sony Ten 2 HD channels.

• The match can also be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website.

Durand Cup will see the repeat of its 2019 semifinal when Emami East Bengal takes on Gokulam Kerala FC in the second quarterfinal at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Thursday.

East Bengal is the joint most successful team of the tournament, winning the title 16 times, the same as Mohun Bagan Super Giant, which will be in action in another quarterfinal, three days later.

Gokulam Kerala, on the other hand, is only the second club from Kerala to ever win the tournament. It beat Mohun Bagan in 2019 to win the title 22 years after FC Kochin, the first club from the state to lift the Durand Cup.

GKFC had outplayed East Bengal in that campaign in the semis, winning 3-2 on penalties. But East Bengal would take solace from the head-to-head record where it leads 3-2.

“Gokulam were the champions of their group, so a tough match awaits us at the VYBK tomorrow,” Carles Cuadrat, the head coach of East Bengal, said before the match.

Read full preview: East Bengal hopes for semifinal spot in clash against Gokulam Kerala FC

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the 2023 Durand Cup quarterfinal between East Bengal and Gokulam Kerala at VYBK in Kolkata. Stay Tuned for lineups and other major updates from the game.