KOLKATA: Two of the country’s most iconic football clubs, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal clash in what is considered a dream final of the 132nd Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) here on Sunday.
For fans of Indian football, it does not get bigger than this as Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) and Emami East Bengal (EEB) go head to head to earn the right to lay their hands on the three iconic and glittering Durand tro-phies and be crowned champions.
The first clash between the two local teams, in the group stages of this very edition, resulted in a favourable re-sult for EEB as Nandhakumar Sekar’s strike made the difference. That they have managed to make their way into the final, shows how strong they have been in this tournament, that needle clash notwithstanding.
EEB were drawn into what was considered the easier group into Sunday’s blockbuster, while Mohun Bagan had to overcome the likes of Mumbai City and FC Goa in the knockouts. But Gokulam Kerala and a resurgent North-East United are in no way “easy games” in Indian football for any team and East Bengal had to fight their way to the grand finale.
Both teams are in good form and Carles Cuadrat, the EEB head coach was certainly brimming with clarity and confidence in the pre-match presser.
“After the draw with the Bangladesh Army team, we talked among the team. Improved in our sessions. Then we beat Mohun Bagan and won the Derby. Then match by match we improved and now we are in the final,” Cuadrat said in the pre-match press conference on Saturday. IANS
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