Mohun Bagan edged past East Bengal in the opening game of the 135th Durand Cup, thanks to a second-half strike from Sahal Abdul Samad to give the Mariners the perfect start in the Durand Cup tournament. Sahal Abdul Samad’s strike in the 52nd minute proved to be the difference as Mohun Bagan edged past East Bengal in a closely contested encounter. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith also played a crucial role, producing a string of fine saves to preserve his side’s clean sheet.

The breakthrough came after Mohun Bagan forced a turnover high up the field. Kiyan Nassiri capitalised by winning the ball near the East Bengal box before reaching the byline and delivering a low cross into the six-yard area. Although Manvir Singh missed his attempted backheel flick, the ball fell kindly to Sahal, who calmly finished into an unguarded net.

The result also gave new Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilempris a winning start to his tenure. The Kolkata Derby was a physically demanding contest, with both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal entering the match after disrupted pre-season preparations. Each side had managed only three training sessions before the fixture, making fitness and match sharpness key concerns for both coaches.

Despite those challenges, veteran defender Alberto Rodriguez stood out with a commanding display at the heart of Mohun Bagan’s defence. The Spaniard’s composure and aerial dominance towards the fag end of the match helped

Responding to a question from myKhel during the post-match press conference, Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilempris highlighted Rodriguez’s importance to the team. He explained that the experienced centre-back was included not only for his leadership qualities, even though he landed in India less than 24 hours earlier!

‘Rodriguez Is A Leader’- Dilempris On Alberto’s 82nd Minute Substitution

Mohun Bagan head coach Pano Dilempris explained that Alberto Rodriguez’s inclusion in the starting lineup was a tactical decision influenced by both leadership and defensive needs.

Dilempris revealed that he had to carefully manage the workload of players who had been putting in significant effort, but felt Rodriguez’s experience made him the right choice for the occasion. He also pointed to the opposition’s attacking style, particularly their reliance on crosses and set-pieces, saying the team needed Rodriguez’s height and aerial presence to deal with those situations effectively.

“Rodriguez is a leader of the team. He knows how to handle a game like this. Since the opposition was sending in a lot of crosses and creating danger from set-pieces, we needed someone with height at the back,” Dilempris said.