Punjab FC beats East Bengal; Chennaiyin FC qualifies for play-offs

Punjab FC signed off from the Indian Super League with a win when they beat East Bengal 4-1 in their last league match on April 10. The result also meant Chennaiyin FC finished sixth and clinched the last playoff spot.

After the win, both Punjab FC and East Bengal finished with an identical 24 points, and Chennaiyin FC, with 27 points and a game in hand (against FC Goa), qualified for the knockouts.

Chennaiyin FC will join Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, FC Goa, Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters in the knockouts.

Chennaiyin FC lost their way in the middle of the league and were staring at finishing outside the top six. Thanks to their impressive performances in the last three games—beating Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and NorthEast United FC—they secured a spot in the top-six.

Punjab started well in their final league match and their attacking trio—Wilmar Jordan Gil, Madih Talal and Luka Majcen—scored goals. While Gil scored a brace, one goal from Talal and Majcen put Punjab in a strong position. For East Bengal, Sayan Banerjee scored the lone goal.

Gil put Punjab ahead in the 19th minute with a splendid strike, but Banerjee restored parity soon after. From then on, it was just one-way traffic as Punjab dominated the proceedings, with Talal helping them to a slender lead at the lemon break.

Gil scored his brace soon after the hour mark, while their skipper Majcen put the contest to bed by the 70th minute with a goal.

East Bengal, coming into the match needing a win to progress to the playoffs, couldn’t manage to keep the Punjab midfielders and their forwards at bay. The Punjab team was brilliant on the flanks, and the forwards did the finishing job without much trouble.

Chennaiyin FC, co-owned by Abhishek Bachchan, is currently sixth on the points table with 27 points, and they will finish their ISL league stage against FC Goa on April 14.