New Delhi: Diamond Harbour FC shocked East Bengal 2-1 to not only enter the Durand Cup final but also become the first debutant team to do so in 134 editions of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
Prior DHFC’s remarkable run, Mohun Bagan held the mark of the best performance by a debutant team in the tournament in 1925, reaching the semi-finals where they lost to eventual champions Sherwood Foresters.
East Bengal beat their traditional rivals Bagan 2-1 in the quarters to fancy a shot at a record-equalling 17th title. But DHFC had other ideas as Mikel Idiakez (66th minute) and Joby Justin (83rd) scored on either side of Anwar Ali (67) long range effort.
DHFC are set to play in the I-League in the 2025-26 season but before they have a chance to lift their first top-tier title in five years of existence when they face defending champions NorthEast United in the final on Saturday.
From the early exchanges, it was evident that DHFC won’t be any pushover as Joby had a crack at goal from close range but it went straight into the hands of EB keeper Prabhsukan Gill.
Joby found a lot of space on the right flank to sneak in behind the EB defence and then feed Samuel whose shot rebounded off the underside of the bar. Minutes later Samuel returned the favour only for Joby to blaze his attempt over.
East Bengal grew into the game towards the later stages of the first half as Dimitrios Diamantakos headed wide before Naorem Mahesh Singh’s shot hit the bar in the 2nd minute of added time.
Second half goals
EB pressed to break the deadlock as soon as play resumed with Bipin Singh hitting over from close. But it was Diamond who scored with Idiakez’s wonderful overhead kick from Anwar Ali’s looped clearance that caught Gill out of position.
Even before DHFC players could retain focus from celebrations EB equalised as Anwar’s 40-yard curving, dipping shot caught DHFC keeper Mirshad napping on the goal line.
EB brought on Basim Rashid to add impetus to their attack as but DHFC scored again as Joby prodded the ball in from a melee off a corner.