Robbie Fowler’s East Bengal ended their ISL campaign with a 6-5 loss to Odisha FC. It was the highest scoring game in ISL history.
East Bengalstart season in the Indian Super League (ISL) ended on a disappointing note on Saturday as Robbie Fowlerthe men fell to a 6-5 loss against Odisha FC at the bottom.
As a result, the Red and Golds finished their campaign in ninth place on the board with just 17 points from 20 games.
“It’s disappointing to see how we finished. We wanted to win. But collection levels and a bad start in the second half cost us the game,” coach Robbie Fowler said after the game.
East Bengal started their last game on the first front and took a 2-1 lead at half-time.
Odisha, however, fought back in the second half and brace each from Paul Ramfangzauva and Jerry Mawihmingthanga they saw them go 6-3 ahead.
East Bengal managed to reduce the deficit to 6-5 with two late goals but it was not enough for them to avoid a wrong finish on an unfavorable ISL record. Welsh Aaron Amadi-Holloway score two for Kolkata giants.
The 11-goal affair was the game that scored the highest in ISL history, using a 6-3 win at Chennaiyin FC over Kerala Blasters FC in 2019-20 and a 5-4 win at Goa FC in the against Mumbai City FC in the 2016 season.
It was also the fifth time a team has conceded six or more goals in the ISL since its inception in 2014.
The season, however, had begun with many expectations for Fowler’s Red and Golds.
East Bengal, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, had moved to ISL – India’s premier club football tournament – from League I.
When Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler became the team’s head coach in the pre-season, he went even further.
East Bengal’s big intentions for their maiden ISL, however, began to fall apart as soon as the trials and troubles on the football field began.
Fowler and Co. failed. the results they wanted to deliver this season and led just three wins, eight draws and nine losses during their maiden campaign in the ISL.
The team finished by conceding 33 goals while scoring just 22 – the third worst defensive and offensive record in the league, respectively.
The bitter ending was not exacerbated by Mohun Bagan’s successes this season.
The Mariners, who teamed up with ATK to form ATK Mohun Bagan, have enjoyed a great season and prefer to finish at the top of the league and earn a place in the AFC Champions League.
East Bengal lost both their expected Kolkata Derbies against ATK Mohun Bagan, who is about to rub salt on what has been a season of injury to the legacy club.
There were very few bright sparks for the Red and Golds this season, with the most famous coming Enobakhare clearsurprise goals. But at the end of the day, those were too small and far apart.
But Robbie Fowler remained optimistic and revealed that preparations to put things right next season have already begun.
“Planning has already begun. As soon as the season comes to an end, we will automatically start planning for next season. We didn’t have enough time this year in terms of preparation.
“With the right recruitment and the right schedule on the training pitches, and with my ideas and my ways of how we want to play, we can do better,” Fowler concluded.
It will be interesting to see if the East Bengal management keeps Fowler – who has been a fan favorite – for next season and if he continues, can the British coach deliver on his promise for next season .
Lead: ISL Media