East Bengal Cruise Past Inter Kashi 5-1 as Ake Loba Nets a Brace

It was a crisp October evening in Pune when East Bengal stepped onto the pitch with clear intent: start strong and keep the pressure on. From the opening whistle, the Torchbearers looked fired up, and the first breakthrough came in the eighth minute.

Dani Ramírez, ever‑ready on the right flank, collected the ball just inside the box and lofted a delicate chip over Inter Kashi keeper Albino Gomes. The net rippled and East Bengal were 1‑0 up, the crowd already sensing something special.

Only eight minutes later, PV Vishnu seized the moment on a swift counter‑attack. A neat one‑two with Ake Loba saw Vishnu sprint into the box and unleash a left‑footed strike that slipped into the bottom‑left corner. The hosts doubled their lead, 2‑0, before the opposition could truly settle.

The tempo never faltered. In the 22nd minute Loba himself stepped up, converting a penalty after Ramírez was brought down by Wayne Vaz inside the area. He placed a right‑footed shot into the top‑right corner, marking his first goal of the season and setting the stage for a personal hat‑trick.

Inter Kashi managed a fleeting lifeline in the 28th minute, not through brilliance but misfortune – Lalchungnunga’s unfortunate own‑goal gave the visitors a 2‑1 scoreline. The moment was brief, however, as Loba completed his brace just before the break, sealing a 4‑1 lead for the Torchbearers.

Coach Habas, keen to protect his key players, made a flurry of substitutions at halftime – Rashid, Loba and Vipin Singh were all rested, giving younger heads a chance to taste ISL action.

East Bengal’s second‑half game plan was pragmatic. They retained possession, shuffled the ball patiently, and denied Inter Kashi any real foothold. The final flourish came in the 81st minute when Lukasz Zwolinski, who had come off the bench, curled a left‑footed finish into the bottom‑left corner after a neat assist from Christopher Ikonomidis. The scoreboard read 5‑1, and the match was effectively over.

Beyond the numbers, the performance underscored East Bengal’s depth and tactical flexibility. A brace from Ake Loba, combined with contributions from Ramírez, Vishnu and Zwolinski, illustrated a side that can score from open play, set‑pieces and the spot. For Inter Kashi, the night will be a lesson in defensive discipline – a reminder that even a single own‑goal can tip the balance in a high‑stakes league.

All in all, it was a night of celebration for East Bengal fans, a confidence‑boosting win that could prove pivotal as the Indian Super League season unfolds.