Kolkata, July 12: On Sunday afternoon, the 2026 Calcutta Football League kicked off with the opening match between defending champions East Bengal FC and Tamluk Khelaghar George Telegraph at the East Bengal Ground. Before the match, the campaign began with a grand inaugural ceremony.
The ceremony was held in the presence of Indranil Khan, the Hon’ble Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of West Bengal, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, IFA Secretary Anirban Dutta, and East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar. Marking a proud moment, the 2026 Calcutta Football League was dedicated to the memory of legendary footballer Sahu Mewalal. A commemorative stamp in his honour was officially unveiled during the inauguration ceremony.
Former East Bengal legends Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Mehtab Hossain, and Dipankar Roy took part in the ceremony, each carrying a burning moshal symbolising the spirit of their former club East Bengal FC their tradition and Calcutta Football League.
In the main contest, the defending champions picked up right where they had left off, defeating George Telegraph 3–0. Throughout the match, East Bengal FC maintained their attacking rhythm and continued to press until the final whistle. However, George Telegraph goalkeeper Sangramjit Roy Chowdhury delivered an incredible performance, making several impressive saves despite his team’s defeat.
In the 21st minute of the match, East Bengal were forced into an early substitution after Bikram Pradhan suffered an injury following a tussle. He was replaced by Suman Dey.
Just four minutes later, East Bengal FC found the breakthrough. From the right Vishnu delivered a pass into the corner of the box to Jesin, who cut past his marker snd sent the ball into the back of the net.
In the 44th minute, East Bengal created another golden opportunity. From the right flank, Jesin made fast run before switching the ball to the left side of the box fo unmarked Vishnu. However, his shot was brilliantly saved by the George Telegraph keeper, who stretched out his leg to deny him.
East Bengal FC, however, doubled their lead before the end of the first half. Following an attacking move, Manotosh Maji won a penalty after being fouled inside the box in the final minute of added time. Joseph Justin stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick.
The attacks continued in the second half, and the defending champions scored their third and final goal in the 88th minute. Debutant Mohammed Bilal found the scoresheet to seal the 3–0 victory. After capitalising on a defensive mistake, Bilal collected the ball on the left, entered the box, and fired it into the back of the net.
East Bengal FC began their CFL 2026 campaign with a convincing victory against a side coached by the familiar opponent figure of Ramiez Barreto. After the match, Barreto acknowledged the quality and intelligence within the East Bengal squad, praising the way they maintained their structure and rhythm throughout the game. With a commanding performance and three points secured, the defending champions have sent out an early statement of intent as they look to retain their Calcutta Football League crown.
CFL 2026 – East Bengal FC vs George Telegraph highlights
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