East Bengal FC suffer a 0-2 defeat against ATKMB in the final Kolkata derby of Hero ISL 2022-23

East Bengal FC ended their Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2022-23 campaign with a 0-2 defeat against ATK Mohun Bagan FC at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on February 25, Saturday. Slavko Damjanovic (68’) and Dimitri Petratos (90’) netted the goals for the Mariners.

Notably, EBFC went into the game with the same starting XI that beat League Shield winners Mumbai City FC 1-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena last week.

The VYBK witnessed an electrifying atmosphere as more than 60,000 people were cheering at the top of their voices. Naturally, the energy levels on the ground were quite high as the players were pumped up to play against each other In the 12th minute of the game, V.P. Suhair took a shot from a distance, but it went straight into the hands of the ATKMB custodian Vishal Kaith.

Five minutes later, Suhair had another chance to break the deadlock. A well-guided through ball came in the path of the EBFC No. 11, but he unfortunately slipped as the Red & Golds lost another chance to score. Both sides were unable to get the lead in the first half.

EBFC began the second half with good intensity and intent. In the 60th minute, they had another chance to break the deadlock. Jake Jervis took a shot, but it went wide of the target.

In the 67th minute, ATKMB scored the first goal of the night via Damjanovic, whose glance off Manvir Singh’s corner bounced off the upright before he helped the ball into the goal.

In the dying stages of the contest, ATKMB substitute Kiyan Nassiri was denied by EBFC custodian Kamaljit Singh inside the box. However, the ball fell straight into the path of Petratos who tapped it in to seal the third place for the Mariners. EBFC, meanwhile, finished the league in the ninth place with 19 points from 20 games (6 wins, 1 draw and 13 defeats).

EBFC’s focus will now shift to the Hero Super Cup which is slated to take place in Kerala in April.