ISL 2025-26: Ezzejjari Brace Give East Bengal FC a 3-0 Win Over NorthEast United FC

East Bengal FC announced their ISL 2025-26 intentions with a dominant 3-0 victory over NorthEast United FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata on Monday, February 16, 2026 — the final match of the opening round of the season. The Red and Golds were in control for large parts of the game, but had to wait until the 66th minute to break the deadlock despite creating a plethora of chances in both halves. Once the opener came — a Youssef Ezzejjari header off Bipin Singh’s cross — the floodgates opened.

Ezzejjari scored again in the 70th minute, slotting home after a composed through-ball from Edmund Lalrindika, and substitute PV Vishnu set up Miguel Figueira for a tight far-corner finish in added time to complete the rout. Coach Oscar Bruzon’s side were deserving winners, though Bruzon will have noted that his team’s profligacy in front of goal — numerous clear chances went begging in both halves — is something to work on before their next fixture. NorthEast United FC, coached by Juan Pedro Benali and missing their star loan departure Alaeddine Ajaraie, offered counter-attacking threat in the first half but rarely troubled goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill in the second.

Match Summary

East Bengal came into the match at the Salt Lake Stadium — their home — with the backing of a vociferous crowd and a clear tactical identity under Bruzon: aggressive, high-tempo, possession-based football. NorthEast United, meanwhile, looked to nullify that possession with swift transitions and a compact defensive shape. The first half ended goalless despite East Bengal’s dominance, as the hosts’ finishing let them down repeatedly.

The second half saw East Bengal start brightly again but miss more chances before Ezzejjari’s brace in the 66th and 70th minutes put the result beyond doubt. Miguel sealed it in added time. Naorem Mahesh Singh was missing for East Bengal due to injury; his replacement in the XI was the midfield combination of Saul Crespo and Rashid.

Match Result

Goal Summary

East Bengal FC head coach: Oscar Bruzon NorthEast United FC head coach: Juan Pedro Benali Absence: Naorem Mahesh Singh (injury, East Bengal); Alaeddine Ajaraie (on loan, NEUFC)

Starting Line-Ups

East Bengal FC

Substitutes used: Edmund Lalrindika for Nandhakumar (62′); PV Vishnu for Bipin Singh (73′); David, Souvik, Martand Raina (90+’)

NorthEast United FC

Notable absence: Alaeddine Ajaraie (loaned out due to ISL uncertainty/financial constraints)

First Half: East Bengal Dominate, Chances Go Begging

Early East Bengal Pressure

The game was barely seconds old when Youssef Ezzejjari and Asheer Akhtar collided, prompting the referee to halt play immediately — a sign of the physicality both sides would carry into the contest. From the first whistle, however, East Bengal made clear their intent. Bipin Singh was the brightest presence early, using the left wing to test NorthEast United’s defensive shape with multiple forays in the opening five minutes. He ventured into the penalty box in the 5th minute, but NEUFC’s defensive discipline thwarted him.

At the 8-minute mark, Jay Gupta moved smartly into the box and squared to Ezzejjari, but the striker missed his footing and the opportunity was squandered. By the 13th minute, Rashid and Saul Crespo had established themselves as the dominant midfield partnership, winning duels and retaining possession efficiently. East Bengal were enjoying the lion’s share of the ball and pressing NorthEast United high up the pitch.

In the 16th minute, Bipin whipped in a delightful cross, only for a NorthEast United defender to clear. In the 20th minute, Miguel tip-toed into the penalty area and tried to feed Bipin, but Redeem Tlang cut off the move. At the 23rd minute, Lalchungnunga found Ezzejjari with a well-weighted ball just outside the box, but Ezzejjari’s shot sailed over the bar. Ten minutes later, Nandha charged into the box and tried to supply Ezzejjari with a powerful cross, only for the striker to fail to convert.

Rashid Hits the Bar — 35′

The best moment of the first half fell at the 35th minute. Bipin Singh drove past multiple NorthEast United defenders to send in a cross, which received a deflection and went for a corner. The resulting set piece was not immediately cleared, and when the ball arrived at Mohammad Rashid on the edge of the box, the midfielder launched a powerful shot that clipped the crossbar, leaving NorthEast United players momentarily stunned. The rebound cleared the danger for the visitors.

NorthEast United tried to offer a counter-attacking threat, with Redeem finding Samte with a brilliant pass in the 33rd minute, but his cross was deflected and Gill collected comfortably. Jithin MS sent a teasing ball from the left in the 28th minute, but no NEUFC attacker was present in the box.

A goalless first half ended despite East Bengal’s complete dominance of territory, possession and chance creation. Bruzon’s side had not lacked effort — they had simply lacked the clinical edge required to convert their possession into goals.

Second Half: East Bengal Break Through with Ezzejjari Brace

More Chances Wasted — Then the Opener

NorthEast United came out with greater intent at the start of the second half, finding gaps in East Bengal’s final third in the opening ten minutes. But East Bengal soon reasserted control. In the 51st minute, Rashid picked out Bipin with an accurate pass on the left; the winger delayed his cross and fed Miguel, but NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh pushed the ball away.

Anwar Ali found Lalchungnunga with a delightful pass in the 59th minute, with the latter feeding Nandhakumar — but Nandha misjudged the flight of the ball and the goalkeeper collected. Eddie Lalrindika came on for Nandhakumar at the 62nd minute, a tactical change that almost immediately changed the game’s dynamics.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 66th minute. Bipin Singh floated a wonderful cross from the right side of the attack, and Youssef Ezzejjari rose to meet it at the far post, heading the ball cleanly into the net. The Salt Lake Stadium erupted as the Red and Golds’ patience was rewarded.

Ezzejjari Doubles Up — 70′

The second goal took only four more minutes to arrive. Bipin found Edmund Lalrindika with a through ball in the penalty area, and the substitute displayed impressive composure under pressure, laying the ball off to Ezzejjari with a precise pass. The Moroccan striker needed no second invitation, smashing the ball into the net from close range to complete his brace and all but settle the contest.

Miguel’s Late Flourish — 90+’

Bipin Singh was replaced by PV Vishnu in the 73rd minute, and East Bengal managed the game comfortably in the closing stages as NorthEast United pressed in desperation, winning back-to-back corners in the 80th minute.

In injury time, Vishnu made an immediate impact — laying the ball off to Miguel, who produced a tight-angled finish past Gurmeet Singh into the far corner to make it 3-0. David, Souvik, and Martand Raina came on as late substitutes to see out the win.

Key Performances

Youssef Ezzejjari

Bipin Singh

Miguel Figueira

Mohammad Basim Rashid

ISL 2025-26 Context

East Bengal FC Under Oscar Bruzon

Oscar Bruzon’s East Bengal FC side came into ISL 2025-26 having recorded the club’s best-ever ISL finish under his charge in the previous season — ninth place in a 13-team competition. He has spoken publicly about building a long-term high-performance culture and wanting to play an aggressive, fast-paced brand of football. The 3-0 win over NorthEast United was a first concrete step toward that vision, even if the finishing will need sharpening ahead of their next fixture against Sporting Club Delhi on February 21 in Kolkata.

Naorem Mahesh Singh’s absence due to injury was a notable missing element in the lineup, but the squad depth proved sufficient.

NorthEast United FC Under Juan Pedro Benali

NorthEast United arrived in Kolkata on the back of their best-ever ISL performance — a third-place finish in the previous season under Benali. However, their preparations for ISL 2025-26 were complicated by the loan departure of their star striker Alaeddine Ajaraie due to financial uncertainty surrounding the league. Benali’s side, built around swift transitions and young talent including Parthib Gogoi, found themselves unable to break through an organised East Bengal defensive setup. Their best moments came from counter-attacking play in the first half, but Prabhsukhan Gill was rarely genuinely threatened.

ISL 2025-26 Opening Round Results

East Bengal’s 3-0 win was the biggest margin of victory in ISL 2025-26’s opening round, and the only shutout in which the losing side failed to score across all four first-round fixtures. East Bengal next face Sporting Club Delhi on February 21 in Kolkata.

Head-to-Head Context

Read More: ISL 2025-26: Madih Talal’s Strike Hands Jamshedpur FC a Winning Start vs Mohammedan

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