East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan SG Durand Cup 2023 final: How did EBFC set up a Kolkata derby final?

Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Emami East Bengal face off within the 2023 Durand Cup ultimate on the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday, September 3.

The blockbuster match would be the second Kolkata derby of the season after the 2 sides clashed within the group phases on the event on 12 August.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant certified for the ultimate after a comeback 2-1 win over FC Goa within the semifinal. East Bengal then again booked its place within the ultimate with a tense penalty shootout win over NorthEast United in Kolkata after the match completed 2-2.

Let’s take a look at East Bengal’s highway to the 2023 Durand Cup ultimate to be held on the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Sunday, September 3.

Group Stage

East Bengal started its 2023 Durand Cup journey towards Bangladesh Army on August 6. The first sport didn’t go to plan because it was decreased to 10 males after Nishu Kumar’s purple card, surrendering a two objective lead within the ultimate minutes to attract 2-2.

East Bengal FC participant Nandha Kumar (11) celebrates after scoring a objective through the Durand Cup soccer match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, Saturday, August 12, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

In the second group sport, the season’s first Kolkata derby, East Bengal ended a winless run towards its arch-rivals, with Nandhakumar Sekar’s strike within the sixtieth minute proving the distinction between the 2 sides.

A slim win within the ultimate group sport towards Punjab FC, due to a objective by Javier Siverio secured high spot in Group A for East Bengal.

Quarterfinal

East Bengal confronted Group C toppers Gokulam Kerala FC within the 2023 Durand Cup quarterfinal on the VYBK in Kolkata. Australian defender Jordan Elsey put East Bengal within the lead inside the first minute earlier than Aminou Bouba equalised for Gokulam early within the second half.

Jordan Rhys Elsey (44) of East Bengal FC celebrates with teammates after scoring a objective towards Gokulam Kerala FC throughout a Durand Cup 2023 quarter ultimate match, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

Bouba discovered the web once more, this time in his personal objective, as he deflected a Nishu Kumar cross into his personal objective to provide East Bengal a 2-1 lead which was sufficient to take them to the semifinals.

Semifinal

East Bengal confronted NorthEast United within the first semifinal of the 2023 Durand Cup, its first semifinal in 4 years. Nandhakumar Sekar was the star once more as he scored in stoppage time to degree the scores and scored the successful penalty within the shootout to take EBFC to the ultimate.

Michel Zabaco and Phalguni Singh put NEUFC right into a two-goal lead, however Naorem Mahesh’s 77th minute strike decreased the deficit earlier than Nandha struck to take the sport to penalties.

Harmanjot Singh Khabra celebrates with Prabhsukhan singh Gill after the Durand Cup 2023 semifinal.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI/ The Hindu

East Bengal scored all of the makes an attempt as Cleiton Silva, Saul Crespo, Borja Herrera, Naorem Mahesh Singh and Nandhakumar discovered the goal within the shoot-out.

Ibson De Melo, Gani Ahmed and Pragyan Gogoi discovered the goal for NEUFC whereas Parthib Gogoi missed his try.