East Bengal Hammer CISF Protectors 8-0 as PV Vishnu's Hat-Trick Revives Durand Cup Campaign
East Bengal responded to their derby defeat in emphatic fashion by defeating CISF Protectors 8-0 in the Durand Cup. PV Vishnu starred with a brilliant hat-trick as Antonio Lopez Habas' side boosted their goal difference and stayed in contention for a place in the knockout stage.
August 01, 2026: East Bengal bounced back in style after their derby defeat, thrashing CISF Protectors 8-0 in their second Durand Cup group-stage match on Friday.
The emphatic victory not only earned the Red and Gold Brigade three crucial points but also gave a massive boost to their goal difference, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage firmly alive. On the eve of the club's foundation day, Antonio Lopez Habas' men produced a dominant performance from start to finish.
East Bengal controlled possession from the opening whistle but found it difficult to break through CISF's disciplined defensive setup in the early stages. The All India Police Games champions focused on defending deep and frustrating the opposition, with goalkeeper Raj Mathur making several impressive saves to keep the score level.
Edmund came close in the sixth minute, while Hardik's cross and Jackson's effort were both denied. In the 13th minute, Jatinder produced a timely block to stop another dangerous attempt from Edmund. Dani Ramirez's free-kick in the 29th minute was brilliantly saved by Raj Mathur, who also denied Rashid moments later.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute. Edmund delivered a clever cutback inside the penalty area, and PV Vishnu produced a brilliant backheel finish to put East Bengal ahead.
The second goal came four minutes later when Vishnu's low cross deflected off CISF captain Khalid and went into the net for an own goal. Jackson added a third in first-half stoppage time, giving East Bengal a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.
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Vishnu's Hat-Trick Headlines East Bengal's Second-Half Goal Fest
East Bengal showed no signs of slowing down after the restart and continued to dominate the contest. Vishnu scored his second goal early in the second half to make it 4-0 before Bipin Singh found the net in the 64th minute after finishing a well-worked move.
Jessin then joined the scoresheet with two quick goals. He first finished a precise through ball with a low shot in the 70th minute before adding another just three minutes later to extend the lead to 7-0.
The final goal came in the 77th minute when Vishnu completed his hat-trick, calmly finishing Bipin Singh's accurate cross to cap off an outstanding individual performance.
The 8-0 victory is East Bengal's biggest win of the campaign so far and significantly improves their goal difference. However, despite the commanding result, the Red and Gold Brigade remain second in the group because of their earlier defeat to Mohun Bagan, which leaves them behind on the head-to-head rule.
East Bengal have moved above South United in the standings and will now face them in their final group-stage match, where a positive result could secure a place in the knockout stage.
Brief Score:
East Bengal 8 (PV Vishnu 38', 75', 77'; Jessin 70', 73'; Khalid (OG) 42'; Jackson 45+1'; Bipin Singh 64')
CISF Protectors 0
