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Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: The Dramatic Kolkata Derby

Monday, May 18, 2026
5 min read
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: The Dramatic Kolkata Derby

Mohun Bagan actually managed a draw. A dramatic 1-1 against East Bengal . It happened in that insane Kolkata derby on Sunday, May 17th.

It was a cagey mess, full of missed chances, brutal tackles, and then some late, pure drama. East Bengal looked like they were going to snag the win, you know? They broke the deadlock in the 85th minute, thanks to Edmund Lalrindika coming on.

But Mohun Bagan didn't let them have it. Almost immediately. Substitute Cummings just headed it home from a corner in the 90th minute. Denying them that famous victory.

So, the score stayed level. Both teams ended up on 23 points. Still, East Bengal held onto a five-goal cushion heading into the final round on May 21st. That gap still felt huge.

They played in front of a massive crowd. Sixty-two thousand two hundred people at the Salt Lake Stadium. And there was that heavy atmosphere, too. You remember Swapan Sadhan “Tutu” Bose ? The former Mohun Bagan president. He died just a few days earlier, back on Tuesday, at seventy-nine.

There was this minute’s silence before the kick-off. Giant posters of Bose covered the stands. A tribute, somehow. For the man who guided the club for so long.

In the first half, Mohun Bagan had possession for long stretches. They created more chances. East Bengal looked really dangerous on the counter, though. Fast, frantic stuff.

The home side was pushing hard. They threatened early. As early as the fourth minute, Liston Colaco slipped Subhasish Bose into the East Bengal box. Then Sahal Abdul Samad couldn't control the cutback.

East Bengal reacted fast. Bipin Singh broke free and scored. Only for Abhishek Singh to get a crucial tackle in the way.

Liston kept moving down the left flank. He was really busy with Mohammed Rakip . Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan kept pressing. Sahal Abdul Samad and Jamie Maclaren were getting hammered.

But East Bengal wasted opportunities. Two golden chances blew by them in the middle of the first half.

First, Anton Sojberg just bulldozed past Tom Aldred . Then he smashed a fierce left-footed shot against the far post in the 15th minute.

Seven minutes later, Bipin Singh was one-on-one with Vishal Kaith . He hesitated. Too long. Aldred got a chance to recover and block.

Then came another moment in the 37th minute. Miguel Ferreira released Sojberg . Clear on goal. But the striker took an extra touch. Kaith rushed out and smothered the danger.

Prabhsukhan Gill was solid for East Bengal . He kept denying Mohun Bagan. He made some sharp saves. Anirudh Thapa fired a long-range volley that Gill saved. Maclaren got close too.

The pace just kept going after the break. Everyone was wasting chances.

Bipin Singh got a chance from a tight angle, set up by Sojberg . He blazed over. Mohun Bagan kept probing through Petratos , Liston , and Manvir Singh .

The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before the end of regulation time.

Miguel Ferreira slipped Edmund Lalrindika through from midfield. The substitute raced clear. He calmly placed his shot past Kaith into the far corner.

Edmund celebrated wildly. He took off his jersey and put it on the corner flag. The red-and-gold fans sensed something huge. A win.

But Mohun Bagan had another move planned.

In the 90th minute, Dimitri Petratos swung in a teasing corner. Cummings timed his run perfectly. He glanced a header into the far corner.

East Bengal ’s frustration boiled over right after. Edmund , the goalscorer, got sent off in stoppage time.

And then there was that moment in added time. Mohun Bagan almost stole the win. Liston burst forward. He squared the ball for Maclaren . But Gill made a stunning save with his leg. He kept the draw.

Gill and Kaith . They were the heroes, somehow, in that unforgettable derby.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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