Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured their 21st IFA Shield championship by triumphing over East Bengal in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Salt Lake Stadium. The match ended 1-1 after regular time, with Mohun Bagan emerging victorious in the penalty kicks to capture their first Shield title since 2003, preventing East Bengal from claiming their 29th win.
Despite East Bengal’s strong track record and two previous wins over Bagan this season, Hamid Ahadad opened the scoring for Oscar Bruzón’s team in the 36th minute following a missed penalty by Bagan’s Jason Cummings. Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) equalized just before halftime, leading to a tense and evenly contested match that remained deadlocked through extra time.
The game was characterized by intense action and opportunities for both sides. Mohun Bagan made an early push, with Jamie Maclaren and Jason Cummings coming close to scoring in the 9th minute, only to be denied by Gill. Despite Cummings missing a penalty in the 34th minute, Ahadad capitalized on the opportunity to put East Bengal ahead. However, Apuia leveled the score with a well-placed shot from outside the box.
In the second half, both teams pressed for a winning goal, with East Bengal’s Hiroshi Ibusuki almost finding the net with his first touch, only to be thwarted by Vishal Kaith. Bagan’s Abdul Sahal sustained a head injury but returned to the field with a bandaged forehead. The match headed into extra time after a crucial save by Gill from Mehtab Singh.
During the penalty shootout, East Bengal converted four of their attempts, while Bagan scored all five of theirs. A tactical decision by Oscar Bruzón to replace Prabhsukhan Singh with Debjit Majumder for the shootout backfired, as Majumder failed to make any saves, allowing Bagan to claim the title.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Mohun Bagan, ending their Shield drought and denying East Bengal a chance to extend their record win tally.