Heading into the Kolkata derby on October 19 at the Salt Lake stadium, East Bengal had never beaten Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League (ISL). Out of eight fixtures in India’s latest version of the top flight, the Mariners had won seven, drawing one. But East Bengal did have the upper hand in terms of overall history, with 139 wins to Mohun Bagan’s 129, with the first-ever fixture between the arch rivals dating back to 1921.
My Kolkata’s Eyewitness was back in action for the game that ranks among the fiercest and most storied showdowns in club football. With around 60,000 people creating an expectedly electrifying atmosphere, the onus was on Mohun Bagan to keep their good start to the ISL season going, as East Bengal went in search of their first win of the season.
Full of noise and confidence, Mohun Bagan had won the battle of the hype
Mohun Bagan fans with a giant and cheeky tifo in their corner of the stadium Ashim Paul
Riding my two-wheeler from Kasba to Salt Lake on Saturday evening, I could see the streets changing colour. While pockets of red and yellow were apparent on the route, most of EM Bypass was decked in green and maroon. Hundreds of Mohun Bagan fans had filled up buses, autos, even goods carriers. Full of noise and confidence, Mohun Bagan had won the battle of the hype before the actual battle on the pitch began.
Sitting in the second tier, surrounded by Mohun Bagan fans, meant that I got a clear view of the game and a palpable sense of the atmosphere in the stadium. Having watched India take on Kuwait earlier this year at the same ground, there was no doubt that the Kolkata derby was on a different level — both in terms of the quality of football as well as the energy of the crowd.
Even though East Bengal were the nominal hosts for the match, Mohun Bagan fans dominated the stands, just as their players dominated the ball. Jose Francisco Molina’s team pressed diligently from the start and passed the ball with purpose. East Bengal, lacking in vision, petered out with a few half-hearted counterattacks. The loudest cheer from East Bengal supporters ensued when Subhasish Bose’s header, which landed up in the back of the net, was cancelled for offside.
‘It could have been 5-0 or more!’
Jahangir Alam has been attending Mohun Bagan’s matches since 2005 Debrup Chaudhuri
After a scrappy first quarter of the game, with a loose ball everywhere you looked, Mohun Bagan gradually gained control of proceedings. The Mariners’ loyalists around me started chanting how the game would flow, in language typical of a derby. Among those in my stand were Jahangir Alam, who has been attending Mohun Bagan matches since 2005. Making his way from Bhangar, South 24-Parganas, Jahangir travels an hour on his two-wheeler every matchday to watch his favourite team in action. “I have also been going to the away games that are close by — Jamshedpur, Odisha and Guwahati. But nothing comes close to the experience of attending a match at Salt Lake,” said Jahangir, wearing a hat in the shape of the Mohun Bagan logo. For his part, Jahangir predicted a win by two goals for Mohun Bagan, with Jamie Maclaren on the scoresheet. Jahangir’s words proved prophetic.
It was Maclaren who opened the scoring for Mohun Bagan in the 41st minute, neatly finishing off a low cross from Manvir Singh at the near post. The goal did not flatter Mohun Bagan, who had come close through a couple of set pieces as well as a solo dribble and shot from Liston Colaco.
Mohun Bagan had multiple chances to extend their lead in the second half from open play, before converting a penalty at the death Ashim Paul
“It could have been 5-0 or more! We could have had a record derby win,” complained the Mohun Bagan fans as the second half wore on. They were not wrong, as the Mariners passed up a number of chances to extend their lead. Colaco went close with a sliding shot and Greg Stewart, arguably the player of the match, saw a ferocious shot from just outside the box go narrowly wide. Neither team looked to play much through the middle, with the default strategy being to use the flanks. When the action did move to the centre, Mohun Bagan reaped the rewards.
With stoppage time on the horizon, Stewart slipped in substitute Dimitri Petratos with a precise through-ball. One-on-one with East Bengal’s Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in goal, the Australian drew a foul and duly converted the resulting penalty. Goal, match and bragging rights sealed for Mohun Bagan.
‘Where are you running away?’
Mohun Bagan fans did not hesitate to dial up the banter after the result was put beyond doubt Sannidh Raychaudhuri
“Dimi dada” chants buzzed around my ears as the Mohun Bagan sections roared in approval. Some Bagan fans even brought out the Poznan, emulating the Manchester City faithful. Crackers exploded in the stands and green and maroon flares went up all across the stadium, as Mohun Bagan converted Salt Lake into their fortress. Some East Bengal fans had already made their way out before the second goal, taunted by “where are you running away” chants by their opposite numbers. By the time the game ended, it seemed as if the East Bengal supporters had lost their mojo as well as their voice.
A rare set of amicable fans from both teams after the match Ashim Paul
Outside the stadium, the tension between the fans continued, with a lot of heckling and abuse exchanged. Thankfully, I at least did not witness any physical violence. But to nobody’s surprise, the traffic had come to a standstill.
With the three points in the bag, Mohun Bagan are now second in the ISL standings, three points off runaway leaders Bengaluru FC. The table makes grim reading for East Bengal, who are rock bottom, having lost five out of five. Rarely in the history of one of football’s most decorated rivalries have the fortunes of both sides been this contrasting. But with a little less than three months to go till they meet again in the ISL, there is ample time for the script to change. Mohun Bagan rule Kolkata for now, but East Bengal, with their wounded pride, will be hungry to mount a comeback. Not just on the pitch but also in the stands.
