East Bengal FC Defeats Mohun Bagan Super Giant 2-1 to Move to the Durand Semifinals

Photo by Pixel Sports\Debjoy Biswas

East Bengal FC reached the semifinals of the 2025 Durand Cup with a clinical 2-1 win over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in a match played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday. Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos was the hero who scored both goals for East Bengal after entering the field as a replacement for injured Hamid Ahadad in the first half.

East Bengal FC dominated the midfield right from the start with Saúl Crespo and Miguel Figueira dictating the pace and Bipin Singh being awarded a penalty half way through the first half. Diamantakos scored the penalty in the 38th minute to put East Bengal FC in a richly deserved lead. The Red and Gold brigade continued to go forward and had more chances, limiting Mohun Bagan Super Giant to one wayward shot within the first 45 minutes.

Diamantakos doubled East Bengal's lead in the 52nd minute with a quick strike from a well coordinated move between Mahesh Singh and Figueira. Mohun Bagan Super Giant, pushed onto the back foot for most of the game, rallied with a vengeance after conceding their second goal. Anirudh Thapa brought the deficit back in the 68th minute with a curling shot from distance after a tight free kick routine that raised hopes in the team.

In spite of Mohun Bagan's better second-half performance and Liston Colaco and Jamie Maclaren's forays, East Bengal defence headed by Lalchungnunga, Anwar Ali, Kevin Sibille, and Mohammad Rakip, held the key. Rakip thwarted Colaco's forays throughout, and Sibille dominated Maclaren big time and produced a vital goalline clearance in the latter half of the match.

East Bengal's defense and midfield order were also evident in the dying moments, with the defense restricting Mohun Bagan Super Giant to hardly any chances and goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill barely tested. Diamantakos had an opportunity to finish his hat-trick towards the latter stages of the match, but Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith denied him.

The victory takes East Bengal into the semifinals, where they face Kibu Vicuña’s Diamond Harbour FC. For Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the second half goal by Anirudh Thapa was not enough to avoid the elimination. The match was characterized by drama and a sizzling encounter in the last minutes, but East Bengal FC's organization and ruthless finishing encapsulated their victory.