East Bengal v Real Kashmir Match Report, 28/12/2018

Real Kashmir climbed above East Bengal to the third spot on the I-League table with a 1-1 draw with the Red and Golds at the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday.

Lalramchullova scored an own goal right after the break but Jobby Justin netted an equaliser for the Kolkata giants.

Both sides made a change to the lineups heading into their final games of the calendar year. Samad Ali Mallick and Muhammad Hammad dropped to the bench to facilitate the return of Lalramchullova for the home side and Aaron Katebe for the Snow Leopards.

The visitors' physical presence made quite an impact on the style of play early on. East Bengal were creative but found it hard to pose much of a threat in the first half.

However, Jaime Santos shot over the bar in front of an empty net and then Brandon Vanlalremdika failed to tap in from close range from Laldanmawia Ralte's cross, both in the eary stages of the game.

At the other end, it was Real Kashmir who had more chances. Strikers Koffi Tetteh and Gnohere Krizo kept goalkeeper Rakshit Dagar on his toes with three shots on target between them.

It took  just eleven seconds for East Bengal fullback Lalramchullova to deposit the ball into his own net after the second half kick-off. Tetteh found Surchandra on the flanks and the former Mohun Bagan player's cross into the box culminated in last season's second division winners edging ahead at the Mecca of Indian football.

East Bengal tails were up after the setback as both Danmawia and Santos shot above the crossbar in due time. The constant press helped the Red and Golds win a corner which Lalrindika Ralte swung in duly, resulting in the equaliser.

Kassim Aidara headed down the delivery towards the farside and Danish Farooq pulled off a goal-line clearance. Jobby Justin used his attacking instincts as he latched onto the loose ball and slammed a left-footer into the top corner of the net, brining up his sixth goal of the season.

With five minutes left in regulation time, Vanlalremdika's cross from the left side had Santos on the clear but his headed attempt was fisted out by Bilal Khan.