Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Habas Helps East Bengal Challenge Mohun Bagan’s Kolkata Dominance
East Bengal beat their city rivals Mohun Bagan 4-1 in a major football final.
Edmund Lalrindika scored three goals for East Bengal.
This was East Bengal’s first Durand Cup win since 2004.
It was also their 17th Durand Cup title.
Coach Antonio Lopez Habas told his players to defend closely and attack quickly.
His plan worked because East Bengal were faster and more direct.
Habas also helped the players believe they could beat a stronger and richer rival.
The win may show that East Bengal are becoming more competitive, but the whole season will show whether they can stay on top.
East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan 4-1 in the Durand Cup final.
Edmund Lalrindika scored a hat-trick, joining Kolkata Derby scoring legends.
The victory gave East Bengal their first Durand Cup title since 2004 and their 17th overall.
Antonio Lopez Habas used compact defending, direct attacks, pace and fitness to unsettle Mohun Bagan.
The result strengthens East Bengal’s belief, but one match does not establish a lasting shift in Kolkata’s football balance.
- Who
- East Bengal, coached by Antonio Lopez Habas, defeated Mohun Bagan, with Edmund Lalrindika scoring three goals.
- What
- East Bengal won the Durand Cup final 4-1.
- When
- In the Durand Cup final; the articles do not specify a date.
- Where
- In the Kolkata Derby and the wider Kolkata football rivalry.
- Why
- East Bengal combined compact defending, quick transitions, superior pace and direct attacking play, while Mohun Bagan’s slower possession-based approach created few threats.
Case for an East Bengal Shift
Reasons Mohun Bagan Remain Stronger
Meaning of the 4-1 victory
Case for an East Bengal Shift
East Bengal beat their biggest rivals decisively, won the Durand Cup and showed they can assert themselves in a derby rather than simply survive it.
Reasons Mohun Bagan Remain Stronger
The result was significant, but one match alone cannot change Kolkata’s football hierarchy.
Long-term power balance
Case for an East Bengal Shift
Habas has given East Bengal organization and belief, while the club entered the season as reigning Indian Super League champions and added another trophy.
Reasons Mohun Bagan Remain Stronger
Mohun Bagan still have a stronger recent record and greater financial strength, so sustained East Bengal dominance remains unproven.
- Final score
- East Bengal 4-1 Mohun Bagan
- Hat-trick scorer
- Edmund Lalrindika
- East Bengal’s previous Durand Cup win
- 2004
- East Bengal’s Durand Cup titles
- 17, matching the competition record according to the article
- Winning coach
- Antonio Lopez Habas
- Habas’s Indian trophies
- Two Indian Super League Cups with ATK, one Indian Super League Shield with Mohun Bagan, and the Durand Cup with East Bengal
- Main tactical approach
- Compact defending, direct attacking and rapid transitions