East Bengal End 22-Year Drought, Tie Record 17th Durand Cup Title

East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for the Durand Cup, defeating archrivals Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a thrilling Kolkata derby final at Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The emphatic victory secured East Bengal's 17th Durand Cup title, drawing them level with Mohun Bagan for the most wins in the tournament's 135-year history.

The match was decided in a breathtaking first half, with East Bengal scoring four goals before the break. Edmund Lalrindika was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick. Captain Mohammed Rashid orchestrated the attacks, setting up Bipin Singh for the opening goal in the 10th minute. Lalrindika then struck twice in quick succession, in the 12th and 22nd minutes, to put the game firmly in East Bengal's control.

Mohun Bagan managed a brief response when Manvir Singh scored in the 33rd minute, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished just before halftime. In the 44th minute, Rashid delivered a cross that was squared by Jay Gupta for Lalrindika to tap home and complete his hat-trick, making it 4-1 at halftime.

East Bengal maintained their defensive discipline throughout the second half, with goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill making crucial saves to...