In a historic moment for Indian football, Mohun Bagan Super Giant (SG) defeated their arch-rivals East Bengal 1-0 to capture their 17th Durand Cup trophy. The final took place at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, adding another chapter to the storied rivalry between these two legendary clubs. With this win, Mohun Bagan SG has now eclipsed East Bengal, which has 16 titles, as the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
Australian forward Dimitri Petratos became the hero for Mohun Bagan SG, netting the decisive goal in the 71st minute. Remarkably, this came after Mohun Bagan's Anirudh Thapa was sent off with a red card in the 62nd minute, putting East Bengal at a numerical advantage. However, the Red and Yellow Brigade failed to capitalize on their advantage, suffering from a lack of precision in the final third.
Mohun Bagan's previous Durand Cup victory dates back to the year 2000. Although they reached the finals in 2004, 2009, and 2019, they fell short on each occasion. Interestingly, they lost to East Bengal in the 2004 final by a score of 2-1. The recent win was, therefore, not just a trophy but also a sweet revenge for past losses.
In a match that saw fluctuating momentum, Mohun Bagan SG dominated the ball possession in the first 30 minutes. East Bengal, entering the final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, grew more comfortable as the game wore on. Both teams launched promising counter-attacks, but neither could find the net in the first half. Mohun Bagan SG’s Dimitri Petratos came closest with a powerful shot in the fifth minute of added time, but the ball soared over East Bengal's goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill.
Further drama ensued in the second half when Anirudh Thapa received his second yellow card of the night, reducing Mohun Bagan to 10 men. Despite this setback, they looked the more dangerous side. Dimitri Petratos finally broke the deadlock with a thunderous left-footed strike from outside the penalty box, sealing the win for his team.
East Bengal had their share of opportunities, registering six shots on target, but failed to capitalize. Even with 10 extra minutes in the second half, they couldn't alter the scoreline. This loss adds to their decade-long trophy drought, with their last significant win coming in the 2012 Federation Cup.
It's worth noting that the two teams had previously met in the group stages of the 2023 Durand Cup, where East Bengal had secured a 1-0 victory—marking their first win over Mohun Bagan in four years.
The 132nd edition of the Durand Cup commenced on August 3 and saw a record 24 teams vie for the prestigious title, four more than the previous year. The tournament proved to be a dramatic and thrilling competition, culminating in Mohun Bagan SG's historic victory.
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