Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 1-0 in the IFA Shield final, securing their second trophy this season.
Mohun Bagan lifted the IFA Shield after a 1-0 victory over East Bengal at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, but the night belonged to more than just the winning goal. In a match that failed to produce the fierce Kolkata Derby battle many had anticipated, the Mariners looked more composed and confident throughout.
East Bengal head coach Habas tried to blend experienced Indian players with his core foreign contingent, but the combination lacked the coordination needed to trouble Mohun Bagan consistently. The Red and Gold brigade struggled to find their rhythm, while the Mariners remained disciplined and controlled the crucial moments.
The biggest talking point, however, was Drazic. Despite suffering a cut to his head during the match, he continued playing and battled through the pain until the final whistle. His determination was rewarded as he was named Player of the Match, making his performance one of the defining moments of the final.
For Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis, the victory comes after a period of criticism and gives him a major reason to celebrate. It may not have been the classic, high-intensity Kolkata Derby many expected, but Mohun Bagan delivered when it mattered most, lifting the IFA Shield and adding another trophy to their season.
First half ends with Mohun Bagan scoring a brace
Rain drizzled in Kolkata just before the most anticipated derby, from the very first minutes of the match, East Bengal as expected, froze their hold in the game, Edmund remained the main highlight for East Bengal, along with Ramirez. In the 6th minute of the game, Edmund found his first opportunity but ended up missing. The ball travelled all around the field, Mohun Bagan created their first opportunity in the 15th minute when Lee Erwin passed the ball to Chhangte but he failed to position the ball. Then, in the 20th minute, Sahal Abdul Samad passed to Chhangte, who received a yellow card for play-acting.
The battle around the field gained momentum but never reached the net, in the 36th minute Chhangte finally came up with a powerful shot but East Bengal goalkeeper, Phurba Tempa Lachenpa dove into the left and saved the crucial goal.
After that, Mohun Bagan continued their solid performance, with Sahal Abdul Samad and Chhangte creating opportunities all around the penalty box. It was the 45th minute when Samir Zeljkovic finally shot the ball into the net from the right flank on Sahal’s assist. The ball deflected off Edmund’s leg before Sahal received the ball.
Tired East Bengal midfield failed to create opportunities
The second half turned into an exercise in formalities for the Mariners as East Bengal failed miserably to create any opportunities. Habas in the pre-match press conference indicated that their players are tired and that’s what reflected in the final. Rashid got his game time but was not able to do much; on the other side, Edmund tried a bit. In the second half, East Bengal used four substitutions; Ake Loba, P V Vishnu, and Ikonomidis took the field but no one was able to take on against the Mariners.
With many questions lingering Mohun Bagan answered everything beautifully and leading 1-0 Mohun Bagan enjoyed their second trophy win of the season. Chhangte showed promise. Many questions were raised about the game planning of Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis but now with winning his first-ever trophy he will enter the ISL with a big boost in confidence.
IFA Shield 2026 Final – Mohun Bagan SG vs East Bengal FC highlights
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