Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs East Bengal: East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan 1-0 in the 2023 Durand Cup. East Bengal have won the Kolkata Derby for the first time in four years. Nandhakumar Sekhar’s lone goal secures three points and East Bengal’s first win since January 2019. The stadium erupted as the Red and Gold Brigade rose from the ashes, despite the heat and rain. Is this the start of a new era?.
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MBSG did fire the first shots with Sadiku showing his class with a strike on the turn in the very first minute, that just missed the target. However, Emami East Bengal Sprang a surprise by settling down nicely into the game with the best of their chances coming in the 17th minute when Naorem Mahesh Singh’s enterprise inside the box, found Souvik Chakrabarti in space, but his attempt on goal was deflected away.
There was an immediate response from Hugo Boumous first and then the combination of Liston and Sadiku for MBSG mounted danger for the red and golds, with the derby living up to fan’s expectations. When the first water-break was taken at the half-hour mark, honours were even.
And although Manvir fired the first bullet immediately after that break which yet again misfired, honours remained even after the first 45 minutes.
The second-half brought no new results and Ferrando began to ring in the changes quite early, sensing new and fresh ideas and perspectives were needed to break the deadlock.
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Boumous and Sadiku were replaced by Petratos and Australian world-cupper Jason Cummings. Petratos could have scored immediately, when Manvir found him with a free header in front of goal, but the Greek lobbed over.
Then all hell broke loose at the hour mark. EEB were on the counter and Borja brought about a quick offensive transition, finding Nandhakumar’s run deep inside the MBSG half, from the middle of the park. The lanky Chennai-born winger darted in, turned his marker Thapa inside, took a couple of touches and unleashed a left-footer which beat the entire Bagan defense and keeper Vishal Kaith at full-stretch and nestled into the back of the net.
Ferrando kept getting players off his strong bench and unleashed Sahal first in place of Manvir. Cuadrat also responded with a double change and brought V.P. Suhari and Guite in place of Borja and Siverio, who had to be stretchered off. As a final throw of the dice, Ferrando brought on Suhail Bhat and Ashique Kuruniyan in place of Anirudh Thapa and Liston Colaco, but other than two gilt-edged chances for Jason Cummings in the 69th and 81stminute, the EEB defense stood resolute.
The final few minutes were played in blinding rain, but nothing could wash away the joy of the EEB supporters as their team held on for a famous victory.
Mohun Bagan XI–
aith (GK), Ali, Hamill, Bose (C), Rai, Thapa, Boumous, Glan, Sadiku, Colaco, Manvir
East Bengal XI:
Gill (GK), Elsey, Desai, Khabra (C), Chungnunga, Nandhakumar, Crespo, Souvik, Borja, Siverio, Mahesh
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