The decisive moment arrived in the 45th minute, just before the half-time whistle. Sahal Abdul Samad delivered a precise chipped pass into the box, which Zeljkovic controlled expertly on his chest before slotting the ball past the East Bengal goalkeeper. The strike proved to be the only goal of the match, as Mohun Bagan successfully held off their opponents throughout a tightly contested second half.
A Historic Double and Tactical Redemption
This victory marks a significant milestone for Mohun Bagan, who have now secured both the Calcutta Football League and the IFA Shield in the same season. It is the first time the club has achieved this domestic double in nearly five decades, with the last instance dating back to 1976 under the guidance of the late PK Banerjee.
The result also serves as a measure of redemption for the Mariners, who were looking to bounce back from a heavy 4-1 defeat to the same opposition in the Durand Cup final earlier this season. While the match lacked the attacking fluency seen in previous rounds, Mohun Bagan appeared significantly more composed than in their previous high-stakes encounter against the Red-and-Gold brigade.
Road to the Final and Future Outlook
East Bengal entered the final with high expectations following a dominant 7-2 semi-final victory over NorthEast United FC, a match highlighted by a hat-trick from David Lalhlansanga. However, head coach Antonio Habas saw his side struggle to find their rhythm against a disciplined Mohun Bagan backline. Conversely, the eventual champions reached the final through a more arduous path, having required a penalty shootout to overcome Punjab FC after a goalless 120 minutes in their semi-final.
Thursday’s clash was the fifth meeting between the two rivals this year and their second consecutive IFA Shield final, following Mohun Bagan’s penalty shootout victory in last year’s title decider. With the Indian Super League season set to commence in just a few days, the triumph provides a major morale boost for Mohun Bagan, while East Bengal will look to regroup quickly following this setback.
