CFL 2026: East Bengal Held to Goalless Draw by United Sports

East Bengal were held to a 0–0 draw by United Sports Club in their opening match of the CFL 2026 Super Six round on Friday, September 11. The result proved a setback for the Red & Gold side in their title race.

Coming off their impressive 1–1 draw against Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata derby, East Bengal struggled to find the finishing touch against a well-organised United Sports defence. The absence of Chaku Mandi, Manotosh Maji and Bikram Pradhan was also felt, particularly in midfield and attack.

East Bengal’s defence remained solid, with Ankan Bhattacharjee and Manotosh Chakladar making no major errors, while goalkeeper Gourav Sau produced a dependable performance. However, the team lacked the same attacking sharpness and creativity that had impressed in the derby.