East Bengal opens title defence with 4-0 win

East Bengal opened its Indian Super League title defence with a 4-0 victory over Churchill Brothers at Fatorda on October 18, 2026, scoring twice in each half to begin the campaign with three points. Dani Ramírez put East Bengal ahead in the second minute with a free kick from outside the penalty area. Churchill Brothers pressed for an equaliser and struck the woodwork, but East Bengal maintained its lead. Edmund Lalrindika doubled the advantage late in the first half, finishing a move set up by David Hmar. Substitute Bipin Singh added East Bengal’s third in the 85th minute with a curling effort, then scored again five minutes later to complete the 4-0 result. The victory began East Bengal’s bid to defend the league title it won last season. Churchill Brothers had entered the match after a 2-1 win over Mumbai City FC in its first ISL appearance. Gaurav Bora scored in that match, and Sebastián Gutiérrez netted a late winner. The defeat at Fatorda ended Churchill’s winning start to its top-flight campaign. The fixture brought together clubs with a history in Indian football, though it was their first meeting in the ISL. Their previous encounter, in February 2020, ended in a 1-1...