East Bengal thrashed arch-rivals Mohun Bagan 4-1 to claim a record-equalling 17th Durand Cup title
Edmund Lalrindika scored a sensational first-half hat-trick alongside Bipin Singh's opener to stun the Mariners
Antonio Lopez Habas' side absorbed heavy second-half pressure with a disciplined low block to seal the historic win
East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for the prestigious Durand Cup in spectacular fashion, routing arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in a pulsating final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium).
Powered by a sensational first-half hat-trick from Edmund Lalrindika, the Red and Gold claimed a record-equalling 17th title, drawing level with the Mariners in the tournament's storied history.
A First-Half Blitz
The stage was set for a classic Kolkata Derby, but the final turned into a tactical masterclass orchestrated by East Bengal coach Antonio Lopez Habas. Mohun Bagan began on the front foot, but Liston Colaco squandered an early opening—a miss that proved incredibly costly.
East Bengal drew first blood in the 10th minute. Skipper Mohammed Rashid expertly set up Bipin Singh, who rifled home a brilliant left-footed finish past Vishal Kaith to break the deadlock.
Before Mohun Bagan could recover, they were caught in a whirlwind. Just two minutes later, in the 12th minute, Edmund Lalrindika capitalized on a fluid counter-attack to double the lead.
Playing further up the pitch as a lone forward, Edmund was untouchable. He netted his second and East Bengal’s third in spectacular solo fashion in the 22nd minute, tearing through the Mariners' defense to leave them shell-shocked at 3-0 down.
Mariners Brief Resurgence & The Killer Blow
Mohun Bagan tried to claw their way back into the contest when winger Manvir Singh found a moment of individual brilliance in the 34th minute, scoring with a sharp finish on his weaker foot to make it 3-1.
However, any hopes of a classic second-half comeback were systematically dismantled right on the stroke of half-time.
In the 44th minute, the tireless Mohammed Rashid picked out Edmund once more, and the forward completed a historic first-half hat-trick—becoming only the second East Bengal player to score a derby hat-trick after the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia.
Habas’ Low Block Secures The Silverware
Armed with a commanding 4-1 lead at the break, East Bengal deployed a disciplined, compact low block in the second half—a trademark of a classic Habas-coached side.
Though Mohun Bagan dominated possession (holding roughly 66% of the ball) and pushed bodies forward in search of goals, East Bengal's backline—marshalled by Anwar Ali and protected brilliantly in midfield—extinguished every threat. The defense held firm to see out the remainder of the game comfortably.
The final whistle sparked euphoric celebrations among the Red and Gold faithful, avenging their 2023 final defeat and sealing a famous night that restored East Bengal to the absolute pinnacle of Indian football.
