East Bengal hammer Mohun Bagan SG 4-1 to win record-equalling 17th Durand Cup title

In a dramatic showdown at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal secured their record-equalling 17th Durand Cup title with a resounding 4-1 victory over their bitter rivals Mohun Bagan SG. The match, held on Sunday, marked the first time in 22 years that East Bengal had won the prestigious trophy. Edmund Lalrindika's hat-trick proved to be the decisive factor, as he opened the scoring in the 10th minute and added two more goals before halftime.

Bipin Singh put Bagan on the scoreboard in the 10th minute, but Edmund restored East Bengal's three-goal advantage just two minutes later. Manvir Singh pulled one back for Bagan shortly after the halftime break, but Edmund added a fourth goal in the 44th minute to seal the win. This victory is a testament to the tactical prowess of East Bengal's manager, Antonio Lopez Habas, who prefers a low block and counter-attacking strategy.

In contrast, Mohun Bagan adopted a possession-based approach, which ultimately proved ineffective against East Bengal's relentless counter-attacks. The Salt Lake Stadium saw Bagan with the ball for 66 percent of the match, completing 467 passes compared to East Bengal's 248. However, East Bengal's efficiency in shots and corner kicks proved to be the difference-maker in this thrilling final.