KOLKATA: East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for the Durand Cup title in emphatic fashion, defeating arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the final in Kolkata on Sunday.
The victory saw East Bengal claim their 17th Durand Cup title, taking them level with Mohun Bagan Super Giant as the joint-most successful club in the tournament’s history.
East Bengal made a blistering start at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, scoring twice inside the opening 12 minutes. Bipin Singh opened the scoring in the 10th minute, calmly finding the bottom-right corner after being played through by Mohammed Rashid.
Just a minute later, Edmund Lalrindika doubled the advantage with a low strike from outside the box.
Lalrindika was at the heart of East Bengal’s dominant first-half display. He scored his second in the 22nd minute, rounding the advancing Vishal Kaith before rolling the ball into an empty net.
Mohun Bagan briefly reduced the deficit in the 33rd minute through Manvir Singh. Receiving the ball on the right, Manvir cut inside before firing past the East Bengal defence to make it 3-1.
But East Bengal restored their three-goal advantage before the break, with Lalrindika completing his hat-trick in the 44th minute.
The second half saw East Bengal protect their commanding lead as Mohun Bagan struggled to find a way back into the contest.
The final whistle confirmed a memorable night for East Bengal, who not only secured their first Durand Cup crown in more than two decades but also moved level with Mohun Bagan at the top of the tournament’s all-time winners list.
