IFA Shield 2026: East Bengal rally to beat Calcutta Customs 3-1; Mohun Bagan open with 6-0 win

East Bengal FC came from behind to beat Calcutta Customs FC 3-1 at the East Bengal Ground in the IFA Shield 2026 on 24 September 2026. Mohun Bagan opened their campaign with a 6-0 home win over Sreenidi Deccan FC.

Both Kolkata clubs started the tournament with victories, the Mariners registering a six-goal margin at home and East Bengal recording a come-from-behind win a day later. East Bengal’s turnaround relied on contributions from Rohit Kumar, Rohit Danu and a last-minute strike by Akash Hemram against Biswajit Bhattacharya’s side.

Calcutta Customs took the lead in the 11th minute when winger Riki Gharami reacted to a loose ball and scored while fully stretched after Gourab Shaw failed to judge the ball. Rohit Kumar levelled with a thumping header from a corner in the first half, and Rohit Danu converted from a cross before Akash Hemram’s late goal sealed the 3-1 victory.

Customs’ winger Riki combined with the club’s new foreign recruit in early link-up play, but that partnership did not yield sustained threat as Narender Gahlot and Monotosh Chakladar remained vigilant to their movements. The Torchbearers mounted the comeback that decided the match.

Mohun Bagan’s 6-0 win over Sreenidi Deccan showcased their attacking output and left the Mariners at the head of Group A in the early table. Sreenidi Deccan occupy the bottom of the points table following their defeat.

Talking about Group B, the only game played so far is the fixture between East Bengal FC and Calcutta Customs FC, in which East Bengal won 3-1 after Rohit Kumar’s equaliser and goals from Rohit Danu and Akash Hemram for Bino George’s side. Mohun Bagan sit 1st place in Group A of the IFA Shield, with 1 win, 3 points and a +6 goal differential.

As the competition moves on, Mohun Bagan sit 1st place in Group A of the IFA Shield, with 1 win, 3 points and a +6 goal differential. East Bengal sit 1st place in Group A of the IFA Shield, with 1 win, 3 points and a +2 goal differential.

The next group fixtures will see the Highlanders face Sreenidi Deccan on 26th September, a match that will be Sreenidi’s last group game, and Punjab FC will begin their IFA Shield campaign against Calcutta Customs on 27th September; only the top two teams in each group will secure qualification berths for the knockouts.