Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured the 125th IFA Shield title on Saturday, defeating arch-rivals East Bengal 5-4 in a penalty shootout at the Salt Lake Stadium. The victory marked Mohun Bagan's first IFA Shield trophy in 22 years. The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, forcing the Kolkata derby to be decided by spot kicks.
East Bengal, who had won the previous two derbies this season, started strong and took the lead in the 36th minute. Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad slotted home a low cross from Naorem Mahesh Singh to put his side 1-0 up. This goal came just two minutes after Mohun Bagan's Jason Cummings missed a golden opportunity, blazing a 34th-minute penalty over the bar after Jamie Maclaren was brought down by Anwar Ali.
Mohun Bagan found their equalizer late in the first half. In added time, Lalengmawia Apuia Ralte unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box that struck the crossbar and bounced over the line, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite numerous attacks and chances for both sides in the second half and extra time, including an Ahadad shot that hit the post, the scoreline remained locked.
The match was ultimately decided in the shootout. Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made the decisive save, stopping Jay Gupta’s attempt. In contrast, East Bengal’s tactical substitution of goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill for shootout specialist Debjit Majumder did not pay off, as Majumder failed to stop any of Bagan's attempts. Robson Robinho, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Dimitri Petratos, and Mehtab Singh all converted for Mohun Bagan.
The victory earns Mohun Bagan their 21st IFA Shield crown and their first since 2003, when they also defeated East Bengal on penalties. The win provided a huge relief for the team amid recent fan discontent regarding the club’s withdrawal from the AFC Champions League 2. For East Bengal, the loss denied them a record-extending 29th Shield title.