East Bengal booked their place in the final of the 135th Durand Cup on Wednesday. They held their nerves to beat Sporting Club Delhi 5-3 via shootout following a goalless draw in regulation time in the first semi-final at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Both teams struggled to break the deadlock, forcing a shootout after regulation time. East Bengal took the first shot, with senior defender Anwar Ali converting. SC Delhi midfielder Juan Sebastian Pena then saw his shot saved by East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.
Rohit Danu scored for East Bengal thereafter, before Rodriguinho converted for the visitors. Lalchungnunga and Duvan Felipe Viafara Mina both found the target with their respective shots, followed by successful attempts from Christopher James Ikonomidis and Mohammed Aimen.
With the shootout finely poised, East Bengal captain Mohamad Basim Rashid stepped up and calmly converted the decisive shot to assure East Bengal of a place in the final.
Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan was a saviour for East Bengal as he first denied Rodriguinho from the spot during the regulation time before saving Pena’s penalty during the shootout.
East Bengal will face the winners of the second semi-final between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and defending champions NorthEast United FC, which will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday.
Earlier, SC Delhi head coach Tomasz Tchórz opted for his usual 3-5-2 formation, with Joseph Sunny and Rodriguinho leading the attack and Pena operating in central midfield.
His East Bengal counterpart Antonio Lopez Habas deployed a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Dani Ramirez Fernández operating behind lone striker Jesin TK.
The opening exchanges were played at a brisk pace, with both teams looking to gain some kind of ascendancy. Pena tested the East Bengal defence early with a long-ranger which sailed wide.
East Bengal’s immediate response was through Edmund Lalrindika and Jesin who set one up for Bipin Singh who failed to connect. But what matters to Habas’ men is the ultimate scoreline.