The 135th Durand Cup kicks off today with the Kolkata Derby. Just over two months ago, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG played a thriller of a match in the Indian Super League (ISL) at a packed Salt Lake Stadium. The match had far-reaching effects on the title race but more importantly, it gave a glimpse of just how vibrant Indian football can be at a time when questions hung over its very existence.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with Jason Cummings equalising for Bagan five minutes after Edmund put East Bengal in front. The result worked in East Bengal’s favour, with the red and yellow brigade winning the title for the first time, their first national league title overall in 22 years.
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Mohun Bagan enter the tournament as the competition’s most successful club, having won the Durand Cup 17 times. East Bengal are close behind with 16 titles. NorthEast United FC, however, are the defending champions, having defeated Diamond Harbour in last year’s final.
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East Bengal were second on the league table for the first half of their final match of the season after going 1-0 down to Inter Kashi but fought back to win 2-1. (ISL Photo)
It was April 2004. Bhaichung Bhutia, Douglas da Silva and Dipankar Roy were on the scoresheet the last time East Bengal confirmed a national league title for themselves. The National Football League was the top flight of Indian football at the time, and this was East Bengal’s third time winning it in four seasons, apart from successfully defending the title that year. Their next league title came on Thursday, after a gap of 22 long years, and it came thanks to goals from a Spaniard and a Palestinian. READ MORE
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