Edmund Lalrindika hat-trick steers East Bengal to 4-1 win over Mohun Bagan in 135th Durand Cup final
East Bengal FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the final of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, with Edmund Lalrindika scoring a hat-trick. The victory secured East Bengal their 17th Durand Cup title, drawing them level with Mohun Bagan on the competition’s all-time honours list.
Mohun Bagan began the match asserting control, with Anirudh Thapa and Liston Colaco probing for chances aimed at Manvir Singh and Jamie Maclaren. East Bengal struck early, however, converting their openings with clinical finishing and counter transitions. The match unfolded as a Kolkata Derby final with both sides featuring the tournament’s leading personalities and tactical adjustments noted throughout the 90 minutes.
The scoring opened in the 10th minute when East Bengal captain Mohamad Basim Rashid played a through ball to Bipin Singh on the left; Bipin finished at the far post to make it 1-0. Two minutes later Edmund Lalrindika doubled the lead, picking up the ball outside the box and unleashing a strike past Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. East Bengal moved to 3-0 in the 22nd minute after a team move that involved Hardik Bhatt and Daniel Ramírez, with Edmund collecting the final pass, beating the keeper and a defender to finish at the near post.
Mohun Bagan reduced the deficit in the 33rd minute when Lalengmawia supplied a through ball to Manvir Singh, who cut inside and finished toward the far post to make it 3-1. Earlier in the half, Liston Colaco’s cross had been cleared and his subsequent free-kick was kept out by East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. The Mariners continued to press for a way back into the game after the first goal conceded.
With Mohun Bagan appearing to regain momentum, East Bengal struck again in the 44th minute: Basim Rashid delivered a free-kick from the right, Jay Gupta redirected it across goal and Edmund Lalrindika finished from close range to complete his hat-trick. The score at half-time stood at 4-1 in favour of East Bengal.
Mohun Bagan made substitutions after the break and maintained an attacking approach, but East Bengal’s defensive structure held firm. Subhasish Bose’s cross was cleared by Lalchungnunga in the 48th minute, Anwar Ali intercepted a move involving Miguel Ferreira and Manvir Singh in the 51st minute, and Gill produced another save to deny a powerful Liston Colaco free-kick in the 58th minute. East Bengal defenders Sandip Mandi, Anwar Ali and Hardik Bhatt, along with Jeakson Singh in midfield, were integral to repelling sustained pressure.
Chances late in the game included Jesin T.K. Thonikkara’s effort in the 71st minute blocked by Kaith, a Kiyan Nassiri Giri attempt in the 86th minute that lacked power, and Jamie Maclaren’s second-half stoppage-time shot comfortably collected by Gill. Mohun Bagan introduced Lallianzuala Chhangte, Miguel Ferreira and Sahal Abdul Samad as part of their late search for a goal, but East Bengal saw out the remainder of the match to confirm the 4-1 scoreline.
The final confirmed East Bengal as champions of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup and levelled them with Mohun Bagan on 17 Durand Cup titles each. Tournament awards were announced: Golden Glove went to Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan SG), Golden Boot to Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NorthEast United FC) and Golden Ball to Edmund Lalrindika (East Bengal FC).