East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Live Score, Durand Cup 2026: The last Kolkata Derby had far-reaching effects on the ISL’s title race. (PTI Photo)
It may have been the first match of the season and technically, a pre-season game when seen from the point of view of the Indian Super League (ISL), but neither side seemed to be treating it that way as an end-to-end opener to the Durand Cup ended with Mohun Bagan Super Giant beating East Bengal 1-0. Sahal Abdul Samad scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the 52nd minute. East Bengal pushed with all they had for the equaliser but Bagan held strong.
Both sides have new managers at the helm. Antonio Lopez Habas has spend many years as head coach of Bagan but he is now helming East Bengal. MBSG manager Panagiotis Dilmperis celebrated like he had won the tournament itself at the full-time whistle, showing he knew exactly what this victory means. Bagan had nearly 70 percent possession in the early exchanges of the first half but East Bengal clawed their way back. The first half thus finished on an even keel in almost every measure, with both sides failing to find a way through each other’s defence.
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Just over two months ago, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG played a thriller of a match in the Indian Super League (ISL) at a packed Salt Lake Stadium. The match had far-reaching effects on the title race but more importantly, it gave a glimpse of just how vibrant Indian football can be at a time when questions hung over its very existence. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Jason Cummings equalising for Bagan five minutes after Edmund put East Bengal in front. The result worked in East Bengal’s favour, with the red and yellow brigade winning the title for the first time, their first national league title overall in 22 years.
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East Bengal were second on the league table for the first half of their final match of the season after going 1-0 down to Inter Kashi but fought back to win 2-1. (ISL Photo)
It was April 2004. Bhaichung Bhutia, Douglas da Silva and Dipankar Roy were on the scoresheet the last time East Bengal confirmed a national league title for themselves. The National Football League was the top flight of Indian football at the time, and this was East Bengal’s third time winning it in four seasons, apart from successfully defending the title that year. Their next league title came on Thursday, after a gap of 22 long years, and it came thanks to goals from a Spaniard and a Palestinian. READ MORE
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