Months after winning their first top division league title for the first time since 2004, East Bengal (EB) also clinched the Durand Cup title after 22 years, following an emphatic 4-1 win over Mohun Bagan (MB) in the summit clash of the 2026 edition, which saw the two arch-rivals go head-to-head at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday (August 23).
This marks East Bengal’s 17th title, which is the joint-most in history alongside MB. They have previously lifted the trophy in 1951, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1978, 1982, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2004. Interestingly, their last triumph (in 2004) also came after a win over MB in a Kolkata derby.
Edmund Lalrindika Scores Historic Hat-Trick
Bipin Singh opened the scoring for the Red and Gold Brigade before Edmund Lalrindika doubled the scoring a minute later. The 27-year-old also found the back of the net in the 22nd and 44th minutes to complete a sensational first half-trick. Manvir Singh found the back of the net for Bagan in the 33rd minute as Antonio Habas’s men went into the half-time break 4-1 up.
Lalrindika’s hat-trick is only the second in history for EB against MB. The only other player to achieve the feat is Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia, who scored thrice in the Kolkata Derby while playing for the Bengal in 1999 in the semi-finals of the Federation Cup.
This is the third instance of a player finding the back of the net after Narayanswami Ulaganathan (Mohun Bagan vs JCT Mills, 1976) and Odafe Okolie (Churchill Brothers vs Mohun Bagan, 2009).
The Champions of India have started the season in style and built on their success. Earlier this month, they defeated Al Arabi 4-1 in the playoff to seal their place in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League 2.