Kolkata: East Bengal on Thursday night won the title of India’s biggest football tournament, the Indian Super League (ISL), for the first time in history.
Just as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has recently risen in West Bengal’s political landscape, a golden sunrise has now arrived for East Bengal as well.
One of the state’s most iconic football clubs, East Bengal finally fulfilled its 22-year-old dream. Spain’s Y. Ezzejjari and Palestine’s M. Rashid scored a goal each against Inter Kashi to guide East Bengal to victory in the decisive match. Inter Kashi’s lone goal came from Spanish footballer Olfred Plena.
As soon as the referee blew the final whistle, emotions exploded among the fans. Their joy knew no bounds. Within minutes, almost the entire stadium had poured onto the field. The scenes resembled the atmosphere at Lord’s in 1983 when India defeated the West Indies to win its first Cricket World Cup and thousands of spectators ran onto the ground. Similar unforgettable scenes unfolded in Kolkata on Thursday night, causing a delay in the presentation ceremony.
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East Bengal defeated Inter Kashi 2-1 to clinch the title. Another football giant from the state, Mohun Bagan, also had a chance to win the tournament, but East Bengal edged ahead on goal difference.
“Thousand scars, one immortal crown” — read a banner displayed in one of the galleries of the Kishore Bharati Stadium. On Thursday evening, those words represented only two colours: red and gold.
Years of taunts, sarcasm and memes aimed at East Bengal have finally come to an end. After enduring disappointment and criticism in previous ISL seasons, the club finally silenced its critics in emphatic fashion.
East Bengal lifted the ISL trophy for the first time, painting the entire city in red and gold on Thursday night.
Most importantly, East Bengal became national champions after 22 long years. Their last national title came in the 2003-04 season when they won the then National Football League (NFL).
Their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant were also in contention for the title on Thursday. However, they needed a massive-margin victory against Sporting Club Delhi. Mohun Bagan fought back to register a 2-1 win.
Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan finished the league with 26 points each, but East Bengal secured the title thanks to a superior goal difference of 19 compared to Mohun Bagan’s 14.
