AIFF Super Cup: East Bengal qualify for semi-finals after 0-0 draw against Mohun Bagan SG in Kolkata Derby

East Bengal held off arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant to play out a goalless draw to advance to the semi-finals of the AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao.

The Red and Golds, who were equal on points (five points) with Bagan but higher due to a superior goal difference, had come into the match needing a draw, while the Mariners needed to win.

But after kick-off, the proceedings showed the opposite: East Bengal’s first shot on target came in the first minute, Bagan’s in the 40th.

Starting with a 4-2-3-1 shape, Oscar Bruzon’s side deployed Mohamad Rakip as an inverted wing-back while in possession, combining with Miguel Ferreira in midfield.

The pair almost led to an early attack when Rakip battled Anirudh Thapa on the right flank and passed to Miguel, who then struck home with his left foot. However, Bagan defender Alberto Rodriguez put his body on the line to make a crucial block.

The Kolkata derby, which was usually characterized by packed houses, had barely a few thousand people in the stadium, but with both sides being from Bengal, the banter was also in the local language, including the ‘expression of anger’ against referees when a foul was wrongly called or not.

East Bengal’s best passage of play in the first half came before the half-hour mark, when they nearly scored three times in six minutes. In the 22nd minute, Rakip set up Hamid Ahadad in the center, who headed the ball over the net.

Two minutes later Miguel flopped the ball in for the Moroccan; this time the ball left the woodwork shaking. Mahesh Singh Naorem then shot wide, assisted by Saul Crespo.

Bagan’s only chance in the first half came via a counter-attack: Liston Colaco carried the ball into the final third and passed to Lalengmawia (Apuia) Ralte in the centre. However, the Indian midfielder shot straight into the gloves of Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

The Mariners got more into the game after the restart, with Apuia and Colaco coming together again in the opening minute. But Apuia’s low cross for Colaco was intercepted by an alert Rakip in his box.

Four minutes later, Aldred headed a free kick from Colaco just over the net. Bagan knocked on the door of East Bengal.

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The Red and Gold Brigade countered ten minutes later: Ahadad’s shot was played out by Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, who caught Jay Gupta’s header – on target – from a corner a minute later.

As the clock passed the 75th minute, Bagan coach Jose Molina became desperate. A goalless result meant East Bengal were done, and Molina went for his final roll of the dice – all six of Bagan’s foreigners were now on the pitch at the same time.

Jason Cummings had replaced Sahal Abdul Samad earlier in the second half, and now Robson Robinho and Dimitrios Petratos replaced Colaco and Manvir Singh respectively.

But Bruzon’s boys had one defender marking each of the four players in the final third, two up front and two along the flanks.

At full-time it was the Red and Gold Brigade who had the last laugh, gaining one point to book a place in the last four and settle the score for the penalty shootout defeat in the IFA Shield final earlier this month.

In the earlier Super Cup match, Dempo Sports Club and Chennaiyin FC bowed out of the tournament after a 1-1 draw at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim.

Shubham Rawat scored for the Golden Eagles from a free-kick in the 25th minute, while Shamik Mitra equalized for the Marina Machans four minutes later.

Published on October 31, 2025