Durand Cup: Nandhakumar Sekar Ends East Bengal's 1658-day Wait To Beat Mohun Bagan

Seasoned Nandhakumar Sekar enjoyed the most defining day of his football career with a swerving left-footer that ended East Bengal's 1658-day derby jinx as the red-and-gold brigade beat arch-rivals Mohun Bagan 1-0 in a Durand Cup match on Saturday. The 60th minute goal also put Mohun Bagan's smooth entry into the quarter-finals on hold as East Bengal can pip them to a last eight spot if they happen to win against Punjab FC in their last group league encounter on Wednesday.

Mohun Bagan, who completed their group A outings with six points from three matches while East Bengal have four points from two games.

Six group toppers and two best runners-up make up the last-eight.

Under Bengaluru FC's Indian Super League winning coach Carles Cuadrat, East Bengal looked much more compact and the forward lineup got back their usual flair with Nandhakumar's international class strike. The former Odisha FC midfielder capitalised on an assist from Saul Crespo from the right flank as he smartly outfoxed Mohun Bagan's India international Aniruddh Thapa with an outside dodge.

Showing perfect composure, the 27-year-old then used his instep to curl one past outstretched hands of Mohun Bagan goalie Vishal Kaith into the far corner of the net.

The win for East Bengal ended defending ISL champions Mohun Bagan's dominance that stretched for more than four years and six months.

East Bengal had last won against Mohun Bagan, a 2-0 result, way back on January 27, 2019 in the I-League.

Since then, Mohun Bagan have won eight on the trot and drew once against East Bengal across all competitions.

It was also a big setback for the Mariners who will open their AFC Cup campaign in four days' time at the same venue against a team from Nepal.

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