In a thrilling encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium, East Bengal emerged victorious over their traditional rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the first meeting of the new season in the Calcutta Football League’s top division. Despite the familiar derby atmosphere, this match held a unique distinction as both teams fielded their reserve players under Indian coaches. This was a direct consequence of a recent regulation implemented by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) prohibiting the employment of foreign players in domestic football leagues.
The CFL derby witnessed a clash of prestige between two sides featuring exclusively Indian players. This marked the first encounter between the two rivals in the CFL after a five-year hiatus, their last meeting in the local league occurring in 2019. Adding another layer to the competition, the CFL mandated that every participating team include at least four local players in their starting eleven.
East Bengal dominated the early proceedings, capitalizing on their attacking prowess to secure a 2-1 victory. The goals came from two young Kerala recruits, P.V. Vishnu and substitute Jesin Thonikkara, who found the back of the net in the 51st and 65th minutes respectively. Mohun Bagan Super Giant managed to pull one back in the dying minutes of the match, in the 90+6th minute, through their Kashmiri recruit, Suhail Bhat.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 77th minute when East Bengal was reduced to 10 men after Joseph Justin received his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off. Despite the numerical disadvantage, East Bengal held on to their lead, securing a crucial victory to kick off their CFL campaign. This win serves as a statement of intent from East Bengal, signaling their ambition to challenge for the title in the new season.
