Kolkata, July 25: Mohun Bagan Super Giant kicked off their 2026-27 campaign in winning fashion, edging past arch-rivals East Bengal FC 1-0 in the opening match of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday. Sahal Abdul Samad’s second-half strike proved decisive in a fiercely contested Kolkata Derby that delivered the first bragging rights of the new season.

The much-anticipated clash also marked the managerial debuts of Antonio López Habas at East Bengal and Panagiotis Dilimperis at Mohun Bagan. Both coaches opted to field entirely Indian starting elevens. East Bengal captain Anwar Ali and Mohun Bagan skipper Subhasish Bose led their respective teams onto the pitch in front of a packed stadium buzzing with derby atmosphere.

Mariners Took Control From the First Whistle

Mohun Bagan looked the sharper side from the outset, consistently finding joy down the right through Tekcham Abhishek Singh. The full-back was heavily involved in the early attacks, first delivering a dangerous cross that Manvir Singh glanced into the side netting before picking out Kiyan Nassiri with another inviting delivery that was comfortably collected by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

Sahal Abdul Samad also tested the East Bengal defence during an impressive first-half display, forcing one routine save before firing another effort into the side netting. Despite controlling possession and registering 10 attempts to East Bengal’s two before the interval, Mohun Bagan failed to convert their dominance into a breakthrough as Anwar Ali and Sandip Mandi marshalled the Red and Gold Brigade’s defence effectively.

The breakthrough finally arrived seven minutes after the restart. Kiyan Nassiri capitalised on a loose touch from Rohit Danu inside the penalty area before sending a low ball across the face of goal. Sahal arrived unmarked at the far post and calmly tapped home from close range to hand the Mariners a deserved lead.

Both benches quickly turned to their substitutes in search of fresh energy. Habas introduced Mohamad Rashid and P.V. Vishnu to inject more attacking intent into East Bengal, while Dilimperis responded with Dejan Dražić and Deepak Tangri.

The substitutions transformed East Bengal’s attacking play. Vishnu forced Vishal Kaith into his first meaningful save with a powerful low strike, while Dani Ramírez’s arrival added greater creativity in the final third.

East Bengal Mounted a Late Fightback

As the game entered its closing stages, East Bengal pushed increasingly higher up the pitch while Mohun Bagan retreated into a compact defensive shape, looking to strike on the counter. Lalchungnunga produced one of the hosts’ best opportunities after bursting down the right and forcing Kaith into a smart stop. Recovering the rebound, the defender headed the ball back into the danger area, but Mohamad Rashid failed to make clean contact from close range.

The pressure continued to mount on the Mohun Bagan backline. Jessin T.K. was unable to steer a header on target before Ramírez came within inches of levelling the contest, his clever near-post effort crashing against the upright after meeting Vishnu’s delivery.

Kaith, however, stood firm when his side needed him most. The goalkeeper produced a brilliant reflex save to deny Rashid’s spectacular acrobatic attempt after Ramírez had found him unmarked at the far post. East Bengal earned another opportunity from the resulting corner, but Anwar Ali’s header drifted off target.

Despite a relentless spell of late pressure from East Bengal, Mohun Bagan held their defensive shape and protected their slender advantage until the final whistle, securing a hard-earned victory to open both their Durand Cup campaign and the new football season on a winning note.

Where To Watch The 135th Durand Cup Live On Online & TV?

The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will see all 43 matches broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on SonyLIV.

Which Are Tomorrow’s Fixtures On Durand Cup?

• Jamshedpur FC vs Defenders FC (Sri Lanka) – 5:00 PM, Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Ranchi
• Indian Army FT vs Samaleswari Sporting – 7:30 PM, Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata