East Bengal Win The Kalinga Super Cup: End Their 12 Year Drought

The finals of the Kalinga Super Cup had it all – high intensity, passion, red cards, late goals, extra time, but only one winner. In one of the most entertaining cup finals in recent years, East Bengal FC beat Odisha FC at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar to win the Indian Super Cup (rebranded as Kalinga Super Cup) and end their 12 year wait for a major trophy.

The feature of this year’s Super Cup was the absence of Indian National Team players due to Asian Cup duties. It gave a chance for young Indian players to show their skills and impress. The rule allowing a maximum of six foreign players on the pitch (up from four for the ISL) meant that the overall quality of the matches was also good to watch.

Odisha FC were the defending champions, having won the cup in 2023 and were the local favorites having beaten ISL champions Mumbai City FC in the semi-finals and were on a 15 game winning streak. Managed by Spaniard Sergio Lobera, they currently sit third in the ISL table.

In the Super Cup, in front of their home crowd, they finished top of a tough group containing FC Goa and Bengaluru FC to enter the semi finals where they beat Mumbai City in a game shrouded in controversy. Playing the finals in their home stadium, with the Chief Minister in audience, and the home crowd backing them, this was Odisha’s cup to win.

On the other hand, East Bengal were in the midst of a 12 year trophy drought, and had been in mixed form in the league before the break. Managed by another Spaniard Carles Cuadrat, they sit eighth in the league with only two wins to their name. However, they had been in sublime form throughout the super cup, having topped their group which also included bitter rivals Mohun Bagan.

In the semi finals, they beat Jamshedpur FC 2-0 thanks to goals from Hijazi Maher and Javier Siverio. Going into the finals, the fans were pessimistic given the form of Odisha and East Bengal’s dry spell. To their credit, East Bengal fans showed up in numbers to support their team and soon the stadium was filled with a sea of Red and Gold that drowned out the Odisha fans.

In the first half, East Bengal were the better team, creating more chances and looked more likely to score. However, the  East Bengal fans would be silenced by Brazilian striker Diego Maurico who scored in the 39th minute to put Odisha in the lead. East Bengal lost their composure and almost conceded a second goal before half time thanks to a goalkeeping error.

After a half time team talk by the inspirational Cuadrat, East Bengal came flying into the second half, pressing high up the pitch and looking for the equalizer. Their efforts were rewarded in the 51st minute when midfielder Mahesh’s brilliant through ball was met by former Odisha striker Nandhakumar Sekar who rounded the keeper to equalize for East Bengal. The winger who joined the club last year, celebrated with folded hands in front of his old fans.

Things got worse for the home team after that. In the 60th minute, Odisha defender Mourtada Fall brought down Spaniard Borja Herrera in the box to concede a penalty. While the foul was routine, the Senegalese defender received a yellow for vehement protesting. Saul Crespo stepped up with a well placed penalty to make it 2-1 for the red and gold brigade and silence the local fans.

Five minutes later, Fall made another rough challenge on Borja to receive a second booking and was sent off, leaving Odisha to play the remaining match with 10 men. From there on, East Bengal dominated proceedings and were perhaps unlucky not to have another two goals. However, a mixture of solid defending by Odisha as well as East Bengal players fluffing chances, meant the score remained the same till the end of regulation time.

In the 7th and final minute of added time, during a rare Odisha attack, Mauricio was fouled by East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill to win a penalty. The home fans suddenly came back to life and midfielder Ahmed Jahouh stepped up to meet their expectations. Scoring with a cool panenka with the last kick of regulation time, the Moroccan wheeled away in celebration as the Kalinga Warriors equalized to send the match into extra time.

Extra time began with East Bengal coming out with renewed vigor and they were playing more aggressively. This backfired as Shouvik was sent off for a second yellow in the 97th minute, which meant both teams were now playing with 10 men. This helped balance the match with both teams playing end to end football.

At the end of the first half of extra time, Cuadrat and Lobera were animated in their team talks and egged their sides to go for the win. The two Spanish managers, who have formed a rivalry over the course of their coaching career in India, did everything in their power to propel their teams to victory. This particular battle was eventually won by Cuadrat.

In the 111th minute, Odisha goalkeeper Mawia’s error saw Narender lose the ball to East Bengal captain Cleiton, who slotted it into the bottom-right corner with a left-footed hit to send the Torch Bearers into a wild frenzy. While Lobera edged his team forward, they were unable to recover from this and seemed to surrender. The East Bengal fans were so noisy, their chants would have been heard all the way in Kolkata.

After 120 minutes of high octane football, two red cards, five goals, and a whole lot of drama, it was over! East Bengal had won their first trophy in 12 years. They were able to get over their heartbreak of the 2023 Durand Cup. Most importantly, they have qualified for the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2 preliminary stage.

East Bengal fans have taken over social media and even the city of Kolkata since Sunday night to celebrate this famous victory. They will hope their team can carry forward this form into the league which commences on 3rd February with a derby against Mohun Bagan.