The contest began with East Bengal looking dangerous in attack. Edmund Lalrindika, who had scored a hat-trick against Mohun Bagan in the Durand Cup final, came close to opening the scoring, but goalkeeper Vishal Kaith produced an important save to keep the Mariners in the game. Mohun Bagan gradually found their rhythm and began creating chances of their own, with Mehtab Singh going close with a header.

The breakthrough arrived just before half-time. Sahal Abdul Samad delivered a clever chipped pass into the penalty area, where Zeljkovic controlled the ball with his chest before calmly finishing to give Mohun Bagan the lead. The goal gave the defending champions a crucial advantage heading into the break.

East Bengal pushed forward after the restart in search of an equaliser, increasing the pressure as the match entered its closing stages. Lukasz Zwolinski came close with a header but failed to find the target, while Kaith made another important save to deny the Polish forward. Mohun Bagan’s defence remained organised under pressure, with Dejan Drazic also putting in a determined performance to help protect the lead.

Despite East Bengal’s late attempts, the Mariners held firm through seven minutes of stoppage time to secure the victory. The result offered Mohun Bagan a measure of revenge after their 4-1 defeat to East Bengal in the Durand Cup final in August and ensured they retained the IFA Shield crown.

For Mohun Bagan, the triumph adds another chapter to their rich history in the competition. For East Bengal, the narrow defeat will be disappointing after their emphatic run to the final, but the rivalry between Indian football’s two historic Kolkata clubs continues to deliver high-stakes encounters and memorable moments.

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Dani Ramírez Fernández gave East Bengal the perfect start, opening the scoring in the ninth minute. The visitors doubled their advantage just before half-time when Anwar Ali found the net in the 40th minute, sending East Bengal into the interval with a 2-0 lead.

Al Hussein responded with greater intensity after the restart and pulled one back through Mahmoud Al-Mardi in the 61st minute. The pressure continued to build, with the Jordanian side enjoying 62 per cent possession and earning 13 corners compared to East Bengal’s four.

Their persistence eventually paid off when Ahmad Assaf equalised in the 87th minute, completing the comeback and denying East Bengal what would have been a memorable away victory. The result leaves both sides with a point from their opening Group H fixture.

Despite surrendering their two-goal advantage, East Bengal’s performance in the first half provided plenty of encouragement as they began their continental campaign against the reigning Jordanian champions.

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The victory ended East Bengal’s 22-year wait for the Durand Cup and saw the Red-and-Gold Brigade equal Mohun Bagan’s record of 17 titles in the historic competition.

The final turned into an East Bengal celebration remarkably early. Bipin Singh opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Edmund Lalrindika took centre stage. The forward struck twice in quick succession to put East Bengal 3-0 ahead and leave Mohun Bagan facing a mountain to climb.

Mohun Bagan managed to pull one back through Manvir Singh, giving the Mariners a brief glimpse of a comeback. However, Edmund had other plans. The East Bengal forward completed his hat-trick before half-time, restoring the three-goal advantage and effectively putting the Red-and-Gold Brigade in complete control.

The second half was a different contest in terms of tempo, with East Bengal protecting their commanding advantage while Mohun Bagan searched desperately for a way back. The Mariners were unable to produce the response required, as East Bengal’s defence remained disciplined and comfortably dealt with the pressure.

For Edmund, it was a night to remember. His hat-trick in the final made him the defining figure of the Kolkata Derby and one of the standout performers of the entire tournament. His performance also added another unforgettable chapter to one of Indian football’s greatest rivalries.

The triumph carries particular significance for East Bengal. After more than two decades without the Durand Cup, the club have finally reclaimed the trophy — and they did it by defeating their fiercest rivals on the biggest stage.

With the 4-1 victory, East Bengal not only lifted the trophy but also matched Mohun Bagan’s record tally of 17 Durand Cup championships. The Red-and-Gold Brigade can now celebrate a landmark night in the club’s history, while Edmund Lalrindika’s unforgettable hat-trick will forever be associated with one of the most memorable Kolkata Derbies ever played.

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With neither side able to find the breakthrough despite several promising opportunities, the tie was ultimately decided from the spot. Prabhsukhan Singh Gill emerged as East Bengal’s hero, saving a penalty during normal time and then producing another crucial stop in the shootout before captain Mohamad Basim Rashid converted the decisive kick.

The semi-final began at a lively pace, with both teams looking to impose themselves. East Bengal gradually gained control of possession, with Edmund Lalrindika influential in midfield and Dani Ramírez attempting to unlock the SC Delhi defence.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade came closest to scoring in the opening half when Basim Rashid’s free-kick struck the crossbar in the 16th minute. Jesin T.K. also went close moments later, seeing his effort hit the outside of the woodwork.

SC Delhi were awarded a golden opportunity in the 33rd minute when Rodriguinho was brought down inside the penalty area. The Brazilian stepped up confidently, but Gill read the direction perfectly and dived to his left to make an outstanding save.

That stop kept East Bengal level and proved to be one of the defining moments of the match.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with East Bengal enjoying possession while SC Delhi remained dangerous on the counter. Rodriguinho continued to cause problems, but East Bengal’s defensive unit repeatedly stood firm, with Anwar Ali making several important interventions.

East Bengal came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock again in the 73rd minute when another long-range effort from Basim Rashid took a deflection and struck the post. Two minutes later, David Lalhlansanga appeared to have found a way through, but SC Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes produced an excellent save to keep the scores level.

As the minutes ticked away, both sides pushed for a winner, but neither could find the final touch. The final whistle confirmed that penalties would decide which team would advance to the showpiece.

East Bengal held their nerve during the shootout. Anwar Ali, Rohit Danu, Lalchungnunga and Christopher James Ikonomidis all converted their penalties, while Gill’s save from Juan Sebastian Peña gave the Kolkata side the advantage.

SC Delhi responded through Rodriguinho and Duvan Felipe Viafara Mina, while Mohammed Aimen also found the net. With the pressure at its highest, Basim Rashid stepped up for East Bengal and calmly converted the decisive penalty to send the Red-and-Gold Brigade into the final.

The victory keeps East Bengal’s hopes of lifting the prestigious Durand Cup alive. They will face either Mohun Bagan Super Giant or defending champions NorthEast United FC in Sunday’s final.

For SC Delhi, the defeat ends an impressive campaign, but their run to the last four represents a strong showing in this year’s competition.

For East Bengal, however, the job is not finished. After surviving a tense semi-final, the Red-and-Gold Brigade now have one final hurdle standing between them and the Durand Cup trophy.

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Head coach Antonio López Habas made several changes to his starting XI, introducing fresh faces across the pitch, and the decision paid immediate dividends as East Bengal took complete control from the opening whistle. The hosts dominated possession, created a flurry of chances and pinned CISF deep inside their own half, with Vishnu, Jesin T.K. and Edmund Lalrindika constantly stretching the visitors’ defence.

Despite East Bengal’s relentless pressure, CISF managed to hold firm for much of the opening half. Vishnu struck the woodwork with an acrobatic effort, Jeakson Singh fired narrowly wide, while goalkeeper Raj Kumar Mahato produced a string of impressive saves to frustrate the Kolkata giants.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute through a moment of brilliance from Vishnu. Edmund Lalrindika’s cutback found the winger inside the penalty area, where he produced a clever backheel finish to put East Bengal ahead. The hosts doubled their advantage just four minutes later when Vishnu’s dangerous cross deflected off CISF captain Mohammad Khalid and found its way into the net as an unfortunate own goal.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Daniel Ramírez displayed excellent awareness to square the ball for Jeakson Singh, who calmly tapped into an empty net to send East Bengal into the interval with a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Any hopes of a CISF comeback disappeared moments after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Sandip Mandi delivered a teasing cross into the box and Vishnu produced a stunning overhead kick to score his second goal of the evening, capping off one of the finest finishes of the tournament so far.

With complete control of the contest, East Bengal continued to attack in waves. Habas introduced fresh legs after the hour mark, and the substitutes made an immediate impact. Bipin Singh added the fifth goal after finishing off a swift counter-attack before Jesin T.K. got his name on the scoresheet with a composed finish after latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball.

The final stages turned into a goal-scoring exhibition. Jesin struck again to grab his brace before Vishnu completed a memorable hat-trick by steering Bipin Singh’s cross into the back of the net, taking East Bengal’s tally to eight and equalling the biggest winning margin in the history of the Durand Cup.

While the attack grabbed the headlines, East Bengal were equally impressive defensively, allowing CISF very little joy throughout the contest. Goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa was rarely called into action as the hosts completely dominated every area of the pitch from start to finish.

The emphatic victory earned East Bengal their first three points of the campaign and provided the perfect response after their defeat in the opening Kolkata Derby. With confidence restored and their attacking unit firing on all cylinders, the Red-and-Gold Brigade will now look to carry this momentum into their remaining group-stage fixtures as they continue their pursuit of the prestigious Durand Cup title.

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For the first time in the tournament’s illustrious history, the Durand Cup opened with the iconic Kolkata Derby, setting the tone for a new domestic football season in front of a packed Salt Lake Stadium. The contest lived up to its billing, delivering intensity, fierce challenges and end-to-end football, before Sahal Abdul Samad’s decisive second-half strike separated the two sides.

Both teams entered the encounter under new head coaches, with Panagiotis Dilmperis taking charge of Mohun Bagan while Antonio López Habas began his latest spell with East Bengal. Despite limited pre-season preparation, the two Kolkata giants showcased the passion and competitiveness that have defined one of Asian football’s greatest rivalries for over a century.

The opening exchanges saw both sides look to settle into the contest, with East Bengal enjoying spells of possession while Mohun Bagan threatened on the break. Chances came at either end, but disciplined defending and alert goalkeeping ensured the deadlock remained intact heading into the interval.

The decisive moment arrived seven minutes into the second half. High pressing from Mohun Bagan forced East Bengal into a costly turnover deep inside their own half before Kiyan Nassiri raced down the right flank and delivered a dangerous low cross into the six-yard area. Although Manvir Singh failed to make clean contact with an attempted backheel, the ball rolled perfectly into the path of Sahal Abdul Samad, who calmly slotted home from close range to hand the Mariners a crucial lead.

Trailing by a goal, East Bengal responded with urgency and pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser. The Red and Gold Brigade created several promising opportunities during the closing stages, but Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith stood tall when his side needed him most. The India international produced a series of crucial saves while the Mariners’ defence absorbed relentless pressure to preserve their slender advantage until the final whistle.

For Mohun Bagan, the victory not only secured three valuable points in Group A but also extended their dominance in one of Indian football’s most celebrated rivalries. Sahal’s composed finish, Nassiri’s determination in creating the goal and Kaith’s commanding display between the posts proved to be the defining factors in an otherwise evenly contested affair.

While East Bengal will take encouragement from their attacking intent and improved second-half display, missed opportunities ultimately proved costly. Habas’ side now faces the challenge of bouncing back quickly as the group stage progresses.

As fireworks lit up the Kolkata sky and thousands of supporters created a spectacular atmosphere inside the Salt Lake Stadium, the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup could hardly have asked for a more dramatic curtain-raiser. The Kolkata Derby once again reminded Indian football why it remains the country’s biggest club rivalry, with Mohun Bagan drawing first blood in the race for this year’s Durand Cup crown.

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The victory sealed East Bengal’s first national league title in 22 years, sparking emotional celebrations among players and supporters as decades of heartbreak and near misses finally came to an end.

Heading into the final day, the title race remained finely balanced, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant also level on points after winning their final fixture. However, East Bengal’s superior goal difference ensured the Red-and-Gold Brigade finished at the top of the standings with 26 points from 13 matches.

Despite the celebrations at full-time, the night began with tension for the home side. Inter Kashi stunned the packed stadium in the 14th minute when Alfred Planas latched onto a long ball and produced a brilliant first-time volley past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill to hand the visitors the lead.

The goal silenced the stadium and increased the pressure on East Bengal, who struggled to find composure despite creating several opportunities. League top scorer Youssef Ezzejjari came closest before halftime but somehow failed to convert from close range, while Planas continued to trouble the East Bengal defence with dangerous attacking runs.

Inter Kashi nearly doubled their advantage on multiple occasions, but East Bengal survived the difficult spell and entered the break trailing by just one goal. The momentum shifted completely after halftime.

East Bengal emerged with renewed urgency and found the equaliser in the 50th minute through Ezzejjari. A perfectly weighted pass from Anwar Ali split the Inter Kashi defence, allowing the Moroccan forward to race through on goal before calmly rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into the empty net.

The equaliser transformed the atmosphere inside the stadium as belief returned among the home supporters. East Bengal began pushing forward with greater intensity, forcing Inter Kashi deeper into their own half.

The decisive moment arrived in the 72nd minute when Bipin Singh delivered a dangerous cross into the box and Mohammed Rashid stretched to guide the ball into the far corner, sending the stadium into complete celebration.

The final stages were filled with tension as East Bengal defended their narrow lead while keeping an eye on developments elsewhere. However, when the final whistle blew, years of frustration disappeared instantly as players, staff, and supporters celebrated a historic title triumph.

The unforgettable campaign also saw individual recognition for East Bengal stars, with Youssef Ezzejjari winning the Golden Boot and Miguel Figueira claiming the Golden Ball award. Hrithik Tiwari secured the Golden Glove honour, while East Bengal received ₹1.25 crore as champions of the Indian Super League 2025–26.

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The hosts wasted no time asserting control, striking as early as the sixth minute through Anwar Ali, whose ambitious long-range effort caught the goalkeeper off guard and nestled into the net. Their momentum only grew stronger as Youssef Ezzejjari doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute. Mohammedan’s struggles deepened when they were reduced to ten men following a second booking, and East Bengal capitalised immediately with Saúl Crespo converting another penalty to make it 3-0 before the break.

The second half continued in the same vein, with East Bengal relentless in attack. Ezzejjari added his second of the night from yet another penalty, making it a rare instance of three spot-kicks converted by one team in a single ISL match. With complete control of the game, the hosts kept pushing forward, and PV Vishnu extended the lead further with a close-range finish.

Anwar Ali then capped off a standout performance by grabbing his brace, finishing calmly from inside the box to make it six. Substitute Nandha Kumar added the final flourish in stoppage time, sealing a historic 7-0 win that sent a strong message across the league.

The result sees East Bengal climb to fourth place with 11 points, firmly boosting their campaign, while Mohammedan Sporting continue to struggle at the bottom, still searching for their first points of the season

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The visitors began the match with good intensity, pressing high and putting the East Bengal defence under early pressure. However, the home side struck first in the 10th minute. Edmund Lalrindika played a pass inside the box to Youssef Ezzejjari, who was brought down by Aibanbha Dohling. The referee awarded a penalty, and Ezzejjari confidently converted from the spot to give East Bengal a 1-0 lead.

Despite the early setback, Kerala Blasters continued to attack and looked determined to find a way back into the contest. They maintained pressure throughout the remainder of the first half but were unable to break through the organised East Bengal defence.

In the second half, East Bengal pushed forward in search of a second goal to seal the match. The hosts created a few promising opportunities, including a well-worked corner routine that ended with Basim Rashid narrowly missing the target.

As the game approached its closing stages, East Bengal looked set to hold onto their slender lead. However, Kerala Blasters found their moment in stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, a corner into the box caught the East Bengal defence off guard, and Muhammad Ajsal rose highest to head the ball past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill to bring the score level.

The dramatic late goal ensured Kerala Blasters secured a valuable point from the contest, while East Bengal were left disappointed after conceding deep into added time.

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East Bengal head coach Óscar Bruzón made two changes to his starting lineup, handing Mohamad Rakip and Naorem Mahesh Singh their first starts of the season, while FC Goa head coach Manolo Márquez stuck with the same team that had featured in the previous match.

The visitors showed early intent when Ishan Pandita chased a lobbed pass from Dejan Dražić, but East Bengal defender Anwar Ali produced a crucial recovery tackle to stop the forward from getting a clear shot on goal. East Bengal soon began to control possession in midfield while Goa looked to create opportunities on the counterattack.

The hosts came closest to opening the scoring midway through the first half. Naorem Mahesh Singh delivered a precise pass to Bipin Singh, who whipped in a cross for Youssef Ezzejjari inside the box. However, the striker failed to keep his attempt down, sending the ball over the bar.

FC Goa responded with a dangerous attacking spell. Brison Fernandes forced an excellent save from Prabhsukhan Singh Gill after a slick passing move involving Ayush Dev Chhetri and Boris Singh. Moments later, Boris Singh came agonisingly close as his powerful effort struck the post.

East Bengal also threatened before the break when Mohamad Rashid unleashed a long-range strike that slipped through the goalkeeper’s hands before crashing onto the crossbar. Despite these chances, the teams went into half-time with the score still level.

The second half turned into a tactical battle with both defences staying organised and limiting space for the attackers. Although both managers introduced fresh legs in search of a winner, clear-cut chances remained rare.

FC Goa nearly broke the deadlock late in the match when Abdul Rabeeh set up Raynier Fernandes at the edge of the area, but the substitute’s attempt sailed over the crossbar.

East Bengal pushed forward during stoppage time hoping to snatch a late winner, but FC Goa held firm defensively. The final whistle confirmed a goalless draw, the first stalemate between the two sides in their ISL meetings.

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