Mohun Bagan will face their arch-rivals East Bengal in the Durand final after a long 19 years
In a thrilling encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, Mohun Bagan emerged victorious over FC Goa in the Durand Cup semifinals, securing a spot in the much-anticipated finals. Mohun Bagan once again made a comeback from one goal down to finish 2:1 at the VYBK stadium, Kolkata.
The match showcased the best of Indian football talent as both teams battled fiercely for a final. The crowd’s roars reverberated through the stadium as the players displayed exceptional skill, determination, and sportsmanship on the field.
Consequently, the win opened a glorious path for a perfect Durand final on ‘Super Sunday’. It sorted Mohun Bagan’s derby showdown against their city rivals East Bengal in a repeat of the 2004 final.
Right from the kickoff, it was clear that the clash between Mohun Bagan and Goa would be an intense contest. The first half saw end-to-end action, with both teams creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities. Hence the first half lived up to its expectations. Additionally, FC Goa primarily put high pressure, yet Mohun Bagan’s defense held firm, setting the stage for a tactical duel.
Although Mohun Bagan was attacking from the good combination play, they lacked finishing. Out of nowhere an erratic error from Hugo Boumous offered FC Goa an opportunity, as Noah Sadaoui made no mistakes to break the deadlock. Noah took Hector Yuste one-on-one and his shot went straight into the net beating the diving Bagan keeper.
Mohun Bagan shifted gears just after conceding the goal and suddenly their attacks were looking more instrumental. The combination play was happening between Ashique Kurunian and Sahal. The tragedy was far from above, as a debatable penalty call stimulated things for the Gaurs as Jason Cummings converted from the spot to mark the equalizer. It happened just before the halftime break in the 43rd minute when Ashique was fouled very close to the penalty box. Although by the first look, it didn’t seem to be a penalty the referee pointed to the spot immediately.
Mariners entered with the same energy, and a spring in their steps was evident after the break. Juan Ferrando brought in Armando Sadiku in place of Hugo Bomous who was not in his best form today. The Albanian striker capitalized on a Sandesh Jhingan blunder to give his team the lead. In the 61st minute a long ball into the Goa defense who misjudged by Sandesh Jhingan. He gave it cheaply to Sadiku whose spectacular shot from a long way beat Dhiraj completely. Hence Mohun Bagan went 2:1 up against the run of the play.
FC Goa fought back fiercely, launching a series of counterattacks in a bid to equalize. However, Mohun Bagan’s solid defense and exceptional goalkeeping thwarted their efforts. Juan brought in Manvir and most significantly Brandon Hamil to tighten up the defense. Although Goa tried to break open the Mohun Bagan defense, some brilliant defending from Hector and Anwar saved the day for the Mariners.
With this victory, Mohun Bagan secures its place in the Durand Cup finals, where they are set to face their arch-rivals, East Bengal, in a highly anticipated Kolkata Derby. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, two of the oldest and most successful football clubs in India, has always been a spectacle that draws immense attention and passion from fans across the country.
Football enthusiasts are already speculating about the strategies both teams will employ in the finals. The Kolkata Derby in the Durand Cup final promises to be a clash for the ages. Thus both teams vie for not only the prestigious trophy but also the bragging rights as part of their history.
As the anticipation grows for the Kolkata Derby, fans are gearing up for an expected footballing spectacle that will captivate the hearts of millions.
