New Delhi: After a gruelling 90 minutes of fierce derby action, a young Mohun Bagan Super Giant side prevailed 3-2 over their historic arch-rivals East Bengal FC on penalties, taking home the Chief Minister Cup at the KD Singh Babu Stadium in Lucknow. Forward Suhail Bhat opened the scoring in the 15th minute, before the Red and Gold Brigade fought back to equalize in the 71st minute through substitute Muhammad Ashique.
The tie, however, could’ve been wrapped up well before regulation time, as Mohun Bagan forward Suhail found the back of the net with a sumptuous header within the first 15 seconds of the match. The fact that it was ruled offside was merely temporary respite, as the Mariners took reins of the tie under 10 minutes, enjoying great freedom from the flanks and using it as a hub to launch attacks on the East Bengal box.
The first warning shot came from the Mariners’ forward Ningobam Singh, who somehow managed to conjure a dangerous shot from an awkward angle in the box, his effort whistling inches away from the near post. East Bengal tried to respond in the 15th minute, as Hira Mondal’s fancy footwork allowed him to infiltrate the Mariners’ box, only for the keeper to rush him and douse the attack.
However it would be Mohun Bagan receiving the fruits of their labour first in the 18th minute. A cross from deep would catch the East Bengal backline asleep, leaving Suhail one-on-one with the East Bengal keeper, with the forward effortlessly converting with a first-time finish.
Lucknow (02/09/24): Mohun Bagan’s Suhail Bhat scores the first goal in an exhibition match for the Chief Minister Cup
Like a shark smelling blood, Suhail would knock at East Bengal’s door repeatedly; a dazzling dribble into the opposition’s box in the 29th minute, only to go down easily, his penalty demands going in vain. East Bengal hearts were in mouth again in the 35th minute, when they lost the ball in their own box to Ravi Rana, with the Mariner rightback aiming his shot straight at the keeper. The half ended right when East Bengal were reclaiming some lost momentum, with multiple crosses peppering the Mohun Bagan box, only to be cleared away.
Come the second half, and Mohun Bagan picked up from where they left. Despite the break, the Red and Gold Brigade looked lethargic both on and off the ball, allowing the Mariners to pop up in pockets or nip up the ball almost unnoticed. Frustratingly, they failed to exploit two golden chances; first in the 49th minute, when winger Taison Singh’s searing free kick sailed mere centimetres over the crossbar.
Then, in the 52nd minute, came the most baffling sequence of play in the match—the Mariners would win the ball high in East Bengal’s half before breaking into a counter. The cut-back from the right half-space was served impeccably for Ningobam Singh, only for the young forward to blast his effort way over the open goal.
To remind viewers that this indeed was a historic derby, the tempo quickly shifted into that of a basketball match mixed with a street fight, with cynical fouls and direct attacks littering the pitch. But with East Bengal’s energy levels visibly waning, the head coach decided it was time for much-needed substitutions.
One substitution, Sayan Banerjee, was already a stand-out so far, the young forward just bursting with energy every time he got on the ball. However, the saving grace was delivered by another substitute in Muhammed Ashique, receiving Aman CK’s cutback and squeezing his shot past a crowded box and the Mariners’ keeper in the 71st minute.
Lucknow (02/09/24): Muhammed Ashique celebrates with his teammates after equalising against Mohun Bagan at the Chief Minister Cup exhibition match
The equalizer predictably gave East Bengal a tailwind, asking more questions from their opposition with their direct passing. However, one such long ball was intercepted in the middle of the park, allowing the Mariners to counter. The ball then arrived for fullback Amandeep Vrish Bhan on the right flank, before he was hacked rashly by Sayan Banerjee, earning him a second yellow and a suspension.
Down to ten-men, but with spirits still sky-high, the Red and Gold Brigade continued their relentless attack. In the 89th minute, Mohun Bagan were almost punished for switching off, when just two incisive passes cut the Mariners’ defence in half, only for the 20 year-old Abhisek Balowary to bravely rush the ball and smother a dangerous shot.
Mohun Bagan survived the late onslaught, but the following penalty shootout opened the door for some morbid deja vu. Some 48 hours separated this shootout from the one that took place in the Durand Cup final, where the senior Mohun Bagan squad were defeated by Northeast United FC.
At first, it looked like the penalty demons had spared the Mariners, when East Bengal’s Tanmay Das scuffed his spot-kick wide, with his teammate Vishnu PV somehow missing the goal in the same manner. With the tie in their hands, Mohun Bagan would momentarily let it slip, not once but twice, with Patra’s cat-like instincts keeping his side afloat.
But it was Balowary with the last laugh, diving to his right and parrying Mohammed Musharraf’s penalty. To put the cherry on the cake, Ravi Rana made sure that his winning penalty was a smashing one, nestling into the top-right corner and lifting his side into pure joy.
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal. The Kolkata Derby brought to Lucknow. Find out who came out on top and took home the Chief Minister Cup! Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
