Mohun Bagan Edges Past East Bengal in Thrilling Durand Cup Opener

Sahal Abdul Samad's Goal Secures Victory

In a tense encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Mohun Bagan Super Giant triumphed over East Bengal FC with a narrow 1-0 win, thanks to a second-half goal from Sahal Abdul Samad. This match marked the commencement of the 135th Durand Cup.

Both teams featured all-Indian line-ups as Antonio Lopez Habas and Panagiotis Dilimperis took charge of their respective clubs for the first time. The match was led onto the field by defenders Anwar Ali for East Bengal and Subhasish Bose for Mohun Bagan, amidst an enthusiastic crowd.

First Half: Mohun Bagan's Dominance

Mohun Bagan started strong, utilizing the right flank effectively with the speed of right-back Tekcham Abhishek Singh. Their initial opportunity arose when Abhishek sent a curling cross to Manvir Singh, whose header narrowly missed the target.

Shortly after, Abhishek's second cross found Kiyan Nassiri, but his header was easily saved by East Bengal's goalkeeper, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Sahal Abdul Samad, pivotal in Mohun Bagan's offense, had two attempts; one was directly at the keeper, while the other hit the side netting.

Despite controlling possession and registering 10 shots compared to East Bengal's two, Mohun Bagan struggled to convert their chances, leading to a goalless halftime.

Second Half: Breakthrough for the Mariners

The second half saw Mohun Bagan maintain their momentum, breaking the deadlock just seven minutes in. Kiyan Nassiri dispossessed Rohit Danu in the penalty area and delivered a low cross that Sahal Abdul Samad tapped into an empty net.

In response, East Bengal's Antonio Habas made tactical substitutions, introducing Mohamad Rashid and P.V Vishnu to bolster their attack. Dilimperis also brought in new signing Dejan Drazic and defensive midfielder Deepak Tangri.

East Bengal's Resilient Response

East Bengal began to find their rhythm, creating several chances as they sought an equalizer. Vishnu tested goalkeeper Vishal Kaith with a powerful strike, marking Kaith's first save of the match.

The introduction of Dani Ramirez further energized East Bengal's attack. They began to dominate the final quarter, with Lalchungnunga making a notable run that forced another save from Kaith. However, Mohamad Rashid failed to capitalize on the rebound.

As the match progressed, East Bengal continued to apply pressure, with Jessin T.K. missing a header and Ramirez hitting the post after a clever run to meet Vishnu's cross.

Final Moments: Mohun Bagan Holds On

Vishal Kaith emerged as a key player for Mohun Bagan, making a spectacular save against Rashid's acrobatic attempt after being set up by Ramirez. Following a corner, Anwar Ali's header went off target.

Ultimately, Mohun Bagan managed to preserve their slim lead, securing a hard-fought victory against their rivals to kick off the season.