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Sports & Cricket
Chennaiyin FC Beat East Bengal 5-3 in ISL Thriller for First Win
Chennaiyin FC beat defending champions East Bengal 5-3 in an eight-goal ISL thriller in Chennai, with Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad scoring two goals each for their first win of the 2026-27 season.
⚡Key Highlights
Premium
Chennaiyin FC beat defending champions East Bengal 5-3 in an eight-goal ISL thriller in Chennai, with Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad scoring two goals each for their first win of the 2026-27 season.
Special coverage and in-depth reporting from the Sports & Cricket desk.
Key analysis, background details, and full reporting below.
Brison Fernandes and Irfan Yadwad scored two goals each as Chennaiyin FC beat defending champions East Bengal 5-3 in an eight-goal Indian Super League thriller in Chennai on Saturday.
By StoryTimesNow News Desk — 07 November 2026, 11:06 PM IST
Chennaiyin FC beat East Bengal 5-3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, 7 November 2026. (Illustration: StoryTimesNow)
Key Takeaways
Chennaiyin FC beat defending champions East Bengal 5-3 in an eight-goal ISL thriller at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, 7 November 2026.
Brison Fernandes scored twice in the opening 18 minutes, Irfan Yadwad added a second-half brace, and Ramon Tanque scored a first-half penalty.
It was Chennaiyin's first victory of the 2026-27 season, taking them to five points from five matches heading into the international break.
East Bengal lost their first league game of the season despite goals from Ake Loba, Dani Ramirez and David Lalhlansanga; they had conceded only once before this match.
Introduction
Chennaiyin FC registered their first victory of the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season, beating defending champions East Bengal FC 5-3 in an eight-goal thriller at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday — an early Diwali-eve celebration for the home supporters.
Brison Fernandes struck twice inside the opening 18 minutes to put the hosts in control, Ramon Tanque converted a first-half penalty, and Irfan Yadwad netted a brace after the break. East Bengal fought back through Ake Loba, a Dani Ramirez penalty and a late David Lalhlansanga strike, but could not overturn a Chennaiyin side that scored five against a defence that had conceded only once in the league before kick-off.
What Happened?
Chennaiyin made a blistering start in the 7:30 pm kick-off. Fernandes opened the scoring in the fourth minute, assisted by Yadwad, and doubled his tally in the 18th minute past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill, set up by Madih Talal, to make it 2-0. Loba pulled one back for East Bengal in the 29th minute, set up by Ramirez, before Tanque converted a penalty in the 41st minute to make it 3-1 at the break.
Ramirez converted a second-half penalty in the 47th minute after a handball by Muhammed Saheef, making it 3-2. Yadwad restored the two-goal cushion just before the hour mark and completed his brace in the 67th minute, set up by Tanque, to make it 5-2. Lalhlansanga grabbed a stoppage-time consolation, assisted by Hardik Bhatt, but Chennaiyin held on for a memorable 5-3 win.
Why Does This Matter?
For Chennaiyin, the result ends a winless start to the season — five goals against the defending champions. The win took them to five points from five matches heading into the international break, giving the squad a result to build on during the pause.
For East Bengal, the defeat is a significant setback. The defending champions had conceded just one goal in their ISL campaign before this fixture, and losing 5-3 — their first league defeat of the season — exposes a defensive vulnerability no opponent had exploited until now. Head coach Antonio Lopez Habas will use the international break to regroup.
Important Details
Goalscorers, Chennaiyin FC 5-3 East Bengal FC, Saturday 7 November 2026:
Minute
Scorer
Team
4
Brison Fernandes (assist: Irfan Yadwad)
Chennaiyin FC
18
Brison Fernandes (assist: Madih Talal)
Chennaiyin FC
29
Ake Loba (assist: Dani Ramirez)
East Bengal FC
41
Ramon Tanque (penalty)
Chennaiyin FC
47
Dani Ramirez (penalty, after a handball by Muhammed Saheef)
East Bengal FC
Just before the hour
Irfan Yadwad
Chennaiyin FC
67
Irfan Yadwad (assist: Ramon Tanque)
Chennaiyin FC
90+
David Lalhlansanga (assist: Hardik Bhatt)
East Bengal FC
Match facts: the game was played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, kicked off at 7:30 pm IST, and was a Matchday 5 fixture of the ISL 2026-27 season. The half-time score was 3-1.
Background and Context
East Bengal came into the match as defending ISL champions, having conceded just one goal in the league before travelling to Chennai. Chennaiyin, by contrast, were still looking for their first win, having taken only two points from their opening four matches.
East Bengal thrashed Inter Kashi 5-1 earlier in the season, while Chennaiyin lost 1-0 to Mohun Bagan in October through an 85th-minute winner. The 2026-27 ISL season runs from 10 October 2026 to 21 May 2027.
What Happens Next?
The ISL now pauses for the international break, with Chennaiyin heading into it on five points from five matches and a first win behind them. They will look to build on the attacking momentum when the league resumes, while East Bengal and head coach Antonio Lopez Habas will aim to regroup.
What Readers Should Know
The result leaves Chennaiyin on five points from five matches in the early ISL standings, while East Bengal have their first league defeat of the season. Fans can check the official league standings and fixtures for the post-break schedule.
FAQs
What was the final score between Chennaiyin FC and East Bengal?
Chennaiyin FC won 5-3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, 7 November 2026. Fernandes and Yadwad scored two each, Tanque scored a penalty, and East Bengal replied through Loba, Ramirez and Lalhlansanga.
Was this Chennaiyin FC's first win of the ISL 2026-27 season?
Yes — the 5-3 win was Chennaiyin's first of the season, taking them to five points from five matches heading into the international break.
How many goals had East Bengal conceded before this match?
Just one. The 5-3 defeat was their first league defeat of the season.
Sources and Verification
All scorers, goal minutes and match facts are from the IANS wire report of 7 November 2026, cross-checked against the Sportstar report and the Outlook India live blog. The kick-off time is from the match listing.
Sportstar (The Hindu) — Chennaiyin FC beats East Bengal 5-3 (7 November 2026)
IANS via Bhaskar Live — Brison and Irfan star as Chennaiyin FC rout East Bengal 5-3 (7 November 2026)
Outlook India — Chennaiyin FC 5-3 East Bengal highlights, ISL 2026-27 (7 November 2026)
Technosports — Chennaiyin FC vs East Bengal FC live score, kick-off 7:30 PM IST (7 November 2026)
Goal minutes are from the IANS wire report of 7 November 2026, cross-checked against the live blogs; the penalties are reported at the 41st and 47th minutes. Yadwad's first goal is reported as just before the hour mark.
