East Bengal FC booked their place in the final of the 135th Durand Cup on Wednesday, 19 August, defeating Sporting Club Delhi 5-3 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes in the first semifinal at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Captain Mohamad Basim Rashid converted the decisive spot-kick to send the Red and Gold Brigade through.

The Hero Between the Posts

Goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill was the standout performer for East Bengal across both regulation time and the shootout. In the 33rd minute, he dived to his left to deny Rodriguinho from the spot after the SC Delhi forward was brought down inside the box by Sandip Mandi. Gill then reprised his role as villain for Delhi in the shootout, saving Juan Sebastian Peña's penalty to tilt the contest decisively in East Bengal's favour.

A Match That Hit Every Piece of Woodwork

East Bengal were the more dangerous side across large stretches of the match but were repeatedly denied by a combination of poor finishing and the woodwork. Basim Rashid's free-kick struck the crossbar in the 16th minute. Jesin T.K. Thonikkara hit the outside of the post moments later. Then, in the 73rd minute, Rashid's long-range drive deflected off Mohammed Azhar and struck the post — East Bengal's third effort to hit the woodwork in the match. A goal from substitute Christopher James Ikonomidis looked destined for the net in the 75th minute before SC Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes produced a superb save.

Tactical Picture

SC Delhi head coach Tomasz Tchórz deployed a 3-5-2 formation, with Joseph Sunny and Rodriguinho leading the attack and Peña operating in central midfield. East Bengal head coach Antonio López Habas opted for a 4-4-1-1, with Dani Ramírez Fernández operating behind lone striker Jesin. Midfielder Edmund Lalrindika was particularly influential for East Bengal, while Anwar Ali's superb sliding interception in the 47th minute — denying a clean run on goal from Rodriguinho — proved a pivotal moment in the second half.

Penalty Shootout Sequence

Anwar Ali opened the shootout for East Bengal before Gill saved Peña's attempt. Rohit Danu scored for East Bengal, with Rodriguinho converting for SC Delhi. Lalchungnunga and Duvan Felipe Viafara Mina then traded successful penalties, followed by successful attempts from Ikonomidis and Mohammed Aimen. With the shootout finely poised, Rashid stepped up and calmly converted to seal a 5-3 win.

What Comes Next

East Bengal will await the winner of the second semifinal between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and NorthEast United FC, scheduled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday. The Durand Cup final will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, setting up a potential Kolkata derby if Mohun Bagan advance.