East Bengal trounced Punjab FC 3-1 in the semifinal of the Super Cup to record their third final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, on Thursday evening. Mohammed Rashid drew first blood for the winners in the 12th minute. Then, in the 33rd minute, Bipin was adjudged to have handled the ball after Ricky Shabong tried to head the ball inside the box. The referee did not hesitate to give a spot-kick in Punjab’s favour. Spaniard Daniel Ramirez levelled the scoreline from the spot-kick in the 34th minute.

Punjab tried to have possession in the midfield, but they often looked disjointed and struggled to create goalmouth, thanks to East Bengal’s compact defensive organisation.

Just seconds before the referee blew the half-time whistle, Kevin Sibille’s header pulls East Bengal into the lead at the break! However, just as East Bengal took the lead off Sibille’s header, chief coach Bruzon was alleged of celebrating in the face of the officials, which saw him receive marching orders for dissent.

But despite Oscar’s send-off, according to Soul Crespo the dressing-room atmosphere became elated with the 3-1 victory. East Bengal captain revealed while speaking to tournament broadcaster after the match, “We are all excited with the result. The dressing room is also elated.”

East Bengal on the day had much superiority over their opposition courtesy their five foreigners. Crespo revealed, “In the new season, I feel we are stronger psychologically compared to our state of mind in the last season. We are being able to deliver with free minds.”