Sumeet Passi’s own goal has helped ATK Mohun Bagan secure a 1-0 win over arch-rivals East Bengal in the Durand Cup. It was the season’s first derby and unfortunately, an own goal settled the scoreline at the Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday. The Red and Gold Brigade are still winless and goalless in this tournament. The match is really important for both the teams as they look to register first win of the season.
Emami East Bengal vs ATK Mohun Bagan
An own goal by Sumeet Passi doomed East Bengal’s fate as ATK Mohun Bagan returned to winning ways by thinnest of margins (1-0) in the marquee ‘Kolkata Derby’ of Durand Cup on Sunday. East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan faced each other in Kolkata Derby after a really long time. Before Sunday, January 19, 2020, was the last time the City of Joy, Kolkata witnessed the prestigious, historic and most energetic encounter of Indian football – the Kolkata Derby. Cut back to August 28, 2022, the derby is back in the city.
Playing in front of a packed crowd of about 70,000, Mohun Bagan went ahead in a freak manner when Liston Colaco’s low flag-kick found Eliandro make a hash of a clearance not being to get a touch and the ball deflected into the net off an onrushing Passi, who was literally blindsided and couldn’t move his body out of line.
Stephen Constantine’s men could barely hold forte as Mohun Bagan kept up pressure from both flanks during the first 45 minutes. It could have been worse for East Bengal who almost conceded a second in the 54th minute but Kamaljit Singh fisted away a sure shot goal from star India midfielder Ashique Kuruniyan. East Bengal came out with a more attacking intent in the second-half but there was little support for their Brazilian forward Eliandro, while their long ball strategy was easily dealt by the Bagan defenders.
East Bengal slowly tried to get into the game after the half an hour mark and got their first shot at goal from a powerful Gonzalez long ranger that narrowly missed the target. Former India U-17 World Cupper Aniket Jadhav’s shot in the 49th minute but missed the direction. Soon they further raided the Mohun Bagan half with a counter-attacking move generated by Eliandro from the left but the three-man attack failed to get past the Mohun Bagan defence.
East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan have locked horns a total of 382 times across all competitions (including major, minor and exhibition games). The Red & Golds have emerged victorious 136 times. Meanwhile, ATK Mohun Bagan (previously Mohun Bagan) have won 122 matches. 124 fixtures have ended in draws.
