East Bengal FC crush Chennaiyin FC 4-0 to boost semi-final chances in AIFF Super Cup
East Bengal FC secured a commanding 4-0 win over Chennaiyin FC in the AIFF Super Cup, thanks to a brace from Thounaojam Bipin Singh and a debut goal by Hiroshi Ibusuki. The result strengthened East Bengal’s semi-final hopes
Hyderabad: East Bengal FC boosted their semi-final hopes with a dominant 4-0 victory over Chennaiyin FC in Group A of the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, on Tuesday.
The result also confirmed Chennaiyin’s elimination from the tournament following back-to-back defeats.
Thounaojam Bipin Singh (39′, 45+1′) was the standout performer, netting a brilliant brace. Kevin Sibille opened the scoring in the 35th minute, while Hiroshi Ibusuki scored his debut goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
The match started with Chennaiyin FC showing early intensity, pressing high up the pitch. Farukh Choudhary came close to giving them the lead when he dribbled past three defenders, forcing a sharp save from Prabhsukhan Singh Gill at the near post. East Bengal struggled to get on the ball and appeared unsettled, pinned inside their own half in the early stages.
But football has a way of changing quickly, and East Bengal seized their opportunity in spectacular fashion. Against the run of play, Mahesh Singh delivered a teasing free-kick from the left in the 35th minute. Kevin Sibille rose above the Chennaiyin defence to head the ball home, sparking an eruption of noise from the Red and Gold bench.
That goal shifted the momentum in East Bengal’s favour. Just minutes later, Mahesh turned provider again, this time from the right flank. His low cross was perfectly met by Bipin Singh, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and calmly slotted the ball past Nawaz. Chennaiyin were left reeling, unable to cope with East Bengal’s sudden surge.
In first-half stoppage time, Bipin delivered once more. Played through on the left, he composed himself and curled a clinical finish into the far corner. Nawaz got a fingertip to it, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the ball from rippling the net. In just 11 minutes, the match had been turned on its head, with East Bengal heading into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
The second half saw Chennaiyin try to mount a comeback, controlling possession for long spells. However, despite their efforts, they lacked the cutting edge to really trouble East Bengal’s defence. The Red and Golds slowed the tempo, absorbed the pressure, and waited patiently for chances to counter.
Hiroshi Ibusuki came close to scoring a sensational debut goal in the 85th minute with a powerful long-range shot that cannoned off the crossbar, leaving Nawaz stranded. However, Ibusuki didn’t leave empty-handed. In stoppage time, Mandar Rao Dessai fouled Edmund Lalrindika inside the box. Hiroshi stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner to seal the 4-0 win.
