I-League 2017/18: East Bengal vs Chennai City FC, 5 Talking Points

East Bengal sprung back to life and reignited their title hopes by crushing Chennai City FC 7-1 in a lop-sided I-League encounter on Saturday.

Khalid Jamil's men, who have often failed to post convincing victories, decimated the opposition on this occasion to pile up the pressure on the two other title contenders - NEROCA FC and Minerva Punjab FC.

This victory has pushed the Red and Golds to the second spot on the table while their goal difference has also received an upgrade (+13). Let's take a look at the talking points from this game:

#1 Khalid Jamil chooses attack over defence

Khalid Jamil has often been criticised for his defensive tactics but his approach to Saturday’s game was totally different. The East Bengal gaffer fielded all five foreigners – Dudu Omagbemi, Ansumana Kromah, Katsumi Yusa, Mahmoud Al Amna and Eduardo Ferraira, right from the first minute to keep the opponents under pressure. The ploy reaped immediate rewards as the scoreline would suggest.

East Bengal also shunned their usual strategy of scoring a goal and then protecting the lead as they went all guns blazing trying to net as many goals as possible. This move by Jamil’s boys killed Chennai’s hopes of staging a comeback in the game.