Dempo SC Vaibhav Rane’s late strike Held East Bengal FC in Super Cup Opener

by FC Admin October 27, 2025

The 2025–26 AIFF Super Cup kicked off at the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim with a classic I-League vs ISL contest, as East Bengal FC were held to a 2–2 draw by a spirited Dempo SC side on Saturday evening.

Mohammed Ali stunned the Red and Golds early, firing Dempo into the lead inside the opening quarter of the game. But the Kolkata heavyweights, fresh off their IFA Shield campaign, found their rhythm soon after. Naorem Mahesh Singh levelled the score with a composed finish early on in the second half, before 25-year-old Brazilian forward Miguel Ferreira marked his presence with a well-taken goal that turned the game around after the halftime.

For East Bengal, this tournament arrives on the back of a busy pre-season. The Óscar Bruzón-led side featured in the IFA Shield, where they met tough opposition throughout and eventually fell short in the final against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan SG.

A late dip allowed Dempo to claw their way back. The Goan club, who entered the Super Cup as late replacements for Real Kashmir, fielded an all-Indian squad — and their fightback spoke volumes. In the 89th minute, Vaibhav Rane unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box that arrowed into the bottom corner, rescuing a point and sending the Goan bench into celebration.

For Dempo, who were not even on the original participants list, this draw feels almost like a win. Holding one of Kolkata’s traditional giants in their first major national outing in years underlines the quiet progress being made by their young core.

East Bengal, meanwhile, will rue the missed opportunity to begin their campaign with three points, but there’s still enough in their display to suggest they’ll be a force in Group A as the tournament unfolds.

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