The Kolkata Derby lived up to its hype as Mohun Bagan and East Bengal fought to produce a high quality final of the Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield. The game went right down to the wire and it needed the dreaded penalty shootout to decide the winner. Mohun Bagan held their nerves to emerge victorious by 5-4 in the penalties, thereby sealing their 21st IFA title and first in 22 years.
Diwali gift by silencing our noisy neighbours 💚♥️#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/odi0jaNDvu
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) October 18, 2025
The win broke a 22-year-old IFA Shield drought for the Mariners who were locked at 1-1 with East Bengal at the end of the regulation 90 minutes. The extra time of 30 minutes couldn't separate the teams either, although Mohun Bagan nearly scored towards the end of stoppage time.
The first half of the match was pulsating and probably the only thoroughly entertaining passage of play in the entire match. East Bengal dominated possession for the early part of the half but couldn't do much with the ball. Mohun Bagan were the better team due to their off-the-ball movements.
The first big chance came in the form of a penalty for Mohun Bagan but to the shock of everyone, the experienced Jason Cummings missed the spot kick. The mistake hurt even more as few minutes later, Hamid Ahadad put East Bengal ahead in the 36th minute after a superb assist from Mahesh.
East Bengal almost doubled their lead in the 43rd minute the ball deflected off the cross bar to give Mohun Bagan some respite. Then, right at the end of first half stoppage time, the Mariners equalized through a sensational goal from the edge of the box. A confusion in the box saw the ball bobbling awkwardly and Mohun Bagan took full toll with Apuia unleashing a powerful left-footed strike into the top left corner.
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The second half also saw a few chances and Mohun Bagan almost had the game in the dying seconds of stoppage time in the second half, only to be denied by the cross bar which made a few saves in extra time too. The two sides gave it their all and combined to produce an electrifying game of football.
Ultimately, the unpredictable nature of penalty shootout did its bit to decide the winner and to be fair, Mohun Bagan were marginally the better side in this clash.
