Mohun Bagan Triumphs Over East Bengal in Thrilling Durand Cup Opener
Intense Rivalry Resumes in Durand Cup
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 25: A second-half goal from Sahal Abdul Samad propelled Mohun Bagan Super Giant to a narrow 1-0 victory against their fierce rivals East Bengal FC in the inaugural match of the 135th Durand Cup, held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday.
Both teams featured all-Indian line-ups as Antonio Lopez Habas and Panagiotis Dilimperis made their debuts as head coaches. East Bengal's Anwar Ali and Mohun Bagan's veteran Subhasish Bose led their teams onto the field in front of an enthusiastic crowd, as noted in a press release.
Mohun Bagan started strong, utilizing the right wing effectively with the speed of right-back Tekcham Abhishek Singh. Their initial opportunity came 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 weak header was easily caught by East Bengal's goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Sahal Abdul Samad, pivotal in Mohun Bagan's offense, had two attempts; one was saved, and the other hit the side netting.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Mohun Bagan struggled to convert their 10 attempts into goals, while East Bengal managed only two. The Red and Gold Brigade's defense, led by Anwar Ali and Sandip Mandi, effectively thwarted Mohun Bagan's efforts, leaving the score at 0-0 at halftime.
Momentum shifted in the second half when Mohun Bagan broke the deadlock just seven minutes in. Kiyan Nassiri dispossessed Rohit Danu in the penalty area and delivered a low cross to Sahal Abdul Samad, who easily tapped it into an empty net.
In response to falling behind, Habas introduced Mohamad Rashid and P.V Vishnu to enhance their attacking options, while Dilimperis brought in new signing Dejan Drazic and defensive midfielder Deepak Tangri.
East Bengal intensified their search for an equalizer, creating several chances. Vishnu's powerful left-footed shot tested goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, who made a crucial save. The introduction of Dani Ramirez also revitalized East Bengal's attack.
As the match progressed, East Bengal began to dominate the final quarter, with the Mariners opting to defend and counterattack. Lalchungnunga's run down the right wing forced another save from Kaith, and he quickly reacted to the rebound, setting up Mohamad Rashid, who failed to connect properly.
East Bengal continued to apply pressure, with most of the closing moments played in Mohun Bagan's half. Jessin T.K. missed a header opportunity, and Ramirez nearly equalized, hitting the post after a clever run to meet Vishnu's cross.
Vishal Kaith emerged as the hero for Mohun Bagan, making a spectacular save to deny Mohamad Rashid's acrobatic attempt after being found unmarked by Ramirez. Anwar Ali's header from the subsequent corner also went off target.
Ultimately, Mohun Bagan managed to maintain their slim lead, securing a hard-fought victory over their rivals to kick off the season.