As the days change in Kolkata, the colours of the Kolkata Derby also take new turns. And it was the same old story yet again, as the seesaw battle of the derby swung in Mohun Bagan’s favour, who eclipsed East Bengal to secure a 1-0 win in the IFA Shield Final on Thursday (October 8).

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan witnessed two of its favourite giants colliding, and this time, the Green and Maroon prevailed to secure their second major trophy of the season. Samir Zeljkovic scored the solitary goal of the match at the flag end of the first half to settle the score.

East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan – As It Happened

East Bengal made a bright start to the match. Early in the first half, Edmund Lalrindika got a glorious opportunity to give EBFC the lead, but his shot was superbly saved by Vishal Kaith.

The Mariners also had a few opportunities, but the East Bengal defence stood firm. But as the half progressed, the Mariners started to hold the edge. There were mistakes in the East Bengal defence and midfield, who gave the ball away too much. Mohun Bagan scored in the 45th minute when Samir Zeljkovic took a superb chest touch from a Sahal Abdul Samad pass, opened up space, and slotted past Phurba Lachenpa to score.

Mohun Bagan began the second half with a one-goal lead. East Bengal head coach Antonio Lopez Habas made a couple of changes early in the second half as Lukasz Zwolinski and Ake Arnaud Loba came on to enhance their attacking firepower.

But it was the Mariners who came close to adding another, as Lallianzuala Chhangte’s driving strike just went past the post. Despite a plethora of attacks in the dying minutes of the game, the Torch Bearers failed to secure parity as Mohun Bagan held on to secure their 22nd IFA Shield title.

The Aftermath

For East Bengal, the focus now shifts to the AFC Champions League 2 as they host Al Shorta. The Mariners do have an away trip to Guwahati as they begin their ISL journey against Northeast United. For Habas, it is to find the rhythm again as his team resume the continental challenge. For Panagiotis Dilmperis, it’s a much-needed wind in his sails, and the Mariners will be desperate to hold on to it in the ISL campaign, a title that eluded them last season only by goal difference.