Edmund Lalrindika produced a derby performance to remember, scoring a hat-trick as East Bengal thrashed arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 to lift the Durand Cup for a record-equalling 17th time at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday.
The triumph ended East Bengal’s 22-year wait for the trophy. The Red and Gold had last won the Durand Cup in 2004, beating Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the final.
Antonio Lopez Habas’ side were at their fluid best, tearing into Mohun Bagan in a remarkable first half. Captain Mohammed Rashid ran the midfield and played a key role in East Bengal’s attacking moves as they scored four times before the break.
Mohun Bagan enjoyed more possession and had more attempts in the opening 45 minutes, but East Bengal were clinical when it mattered. The Red and Gold repeatedly exposed gaps in the Mariners’ defence and turned their openings into goals with ruthless efficiency.
Rashid set up Bipin Singh for the opener in the 10th minute before Lalrindika struck twice in quick succession.
Bipin opened the scoring with a composed left-footed finish. Rashid won possession in the opposition half and shaped as if to shoot before slipping the ball through to Bipin, who drilled his effort from inside the box past Vishal Kaith.
East Bengal doubled their advantage two minutes later.
Lalrindika burst forward on the counter and unleashed a powerful effort from around 20 yards. The ball took a deflection off Kaith before finding the back of the net.
The forward was not finished. Lalrindika struck again in the 22nd minute, this time finishing into an empty net. Hardik Bhatt picked up possession on the left and fed Daniel Ramirez, who threaded the ball through to Lalrindika.
The striker took a touch into the box, rounded the advancing Kaith and calmly slotted the ball into the unguarded goal. Mohun Bagan finally managed to stem the flow and pulled one back through Manvir Singh in the 33rd minute. It was a brief moment of hope for the Mariners, who had spent much of the half chasing the game.
East Bengal, however, restored their three-goal advantage just before the break. Rashid delivered a teasing cross towards the far side of the box, where Jay Gupta arrived at pace and squared the ball across the face of goal. Lalrindika was on hand to tap home in the 44th minute and complete his hat-trick.
The damage had been done. Mohun Bagan had more of the ball after the break but struggled to turn their possession into clear chances. East Bengal dropped deeper, maintained their shape and defended their advantage with discipline.
There were no more goals, but the Mariners never looked capable of producing the comeback they needed. The victory also allowed East Bengal to avenge their 0-1 defeat to Mohun Bagan in the 2023 Durand Cup final, when the Mariners had claimed a record 17th title.
The two Kolkata heavyweights are now level on 17 Durand Cup titles apiece in the 135-year history of Asia’s oldest football competition. For Habas, the victory carried its own significance. The Spaniard has enjoyed success with both clubs in Kolkata, having guided ATK to two ISL titles and also had a stint with Mohun Bagan.
On Sunday, though, he was firmly on the winning side of the derby. For East Bengal, after 22 years of waiting, the Durand Cup is finally back in their hands. And they did it by putting their fiercest rivals to the sword.
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