Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Habas Explains East Bengal’s Missed Fifth Goal Against Mohun Bagan
East Bengal beat their biggest rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, 4-1 in a football final.
The match was played last Sunday at Salt Lake Stadium.
Fans hoped East Bengal would score five goals, but that did not happen.
Coach Antonio Lopez Habas said the players had used too much energy earlier in the game.
He also said Mohun Bagan had strong players who stopped them from scoring again.
This win gave East Bengal the Durand Cup for the first time in 22 years.
The team will now play in the Indian Super League and AFC Champions League Two.
Habas praised Edmund Lalrindika for scoring three goals and Anwar Ali for defending well.
He also said Indian football needs better infrastructure and stronger support from important decision-makers.
East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the Durand Cup final at Salt Lake Stadium last Sunday.
Coach Antonio Lopez Habas said his team lacked the energy to score a fifth goal after making a major physical effort.
The victory restored East Bengal’s Durand Cup title after a 22-year gap and avenged Habas’s earlier derby defeat.
East Bengal will next focus on the Indian Super League and AFC Champions League Two, where they are in Group D.
Habas praised hat-trick scorer Edmund Lalrindika and defender Anwar Ali while criticizing Indian football’s infrastructure and leadership.
- Who
- East Bengal, coached by Antonio Lopez Habas, defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
- What
- East Bengal won the Durand Cup final 4-1 and did not score a hoped-for fifth goal.
- When
- The final was played last Sunday; the AFC Champions League Two group stage is scheduled from September 15 to December 9, and the next Indian Super League is expected to start October 10.
- Where
- The final took place at Salt Lake Stadium; East Bengal’s AFC Champions League Two Group D opponents are from Jordan, Iraq and Oman.
- Why
- Habas said East Bengal could not score again because the team had made a major physical effort during the first 65–70 minutes and lacked energy afterward.
- Final score
- East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1.
- Tournament
- Durand Cup
- Title gap
- East Bengal regained the Durand Cup after 22 years.
- Coach
- Antonio Lopez Habas
- Standout performance
- Edmund Lalrindika scored a hat-trick in the final.
- AFC group
- East Bengal are in Group D with Al Hussein SC, Al Shorta SC and Al Seeb Club.
- Upcoming competitions
- East Bengal will compete in the Indian Super League and AFC Champions League Two.