East Bengal won the Durand Cup for the first time since 2004 after beating Kolkata rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in Sunday’s final at the Salt Lake Stadium.
The match was effectively over by half-time. Bipin Singh opened the scoring in the 10th minute, and Edmund Lalrindika struck a first-half hat-trick, scoring in the 11th, 22nd and 44th minutes. Manvir Singh pulled one back for Mohun Bagan in between.
A record-equalling title
The win took East Bengal to 17 Durand Cup titles, level with Mohun Bagan as the most successful clubs in the tournament’s history. It was also the biggest winning margin by either side in a Kolkata derby final of the competition.
It was a first Durand Cup for head coach Antonio López Habas. Lalrindika was named the tournament’s best player. East Bengal, the reigning ISL champions, have also reached the main stage of the AFC Champions League Two.
