ISL 2025-26: East Bengal clinch maiden title with 2-1 win over Inter Kashi
Synopsis
Twenty-two years of hurt ended at Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Thursday night. East Bengal's 2-1 win over Inter Kashi in the ISL 2025-26 final — decided by goal difference over Mohun Bagan — gave the Red-and-Gold Brigade their maiden ISL title and their first national league crown since 2003, in front of a home crowd that had waited a generation for this moment.
Key Takeaways
East Bengal defeated Inter Kashi 2-1 on 22 May 2025 to win the ISL 2025-26 title at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata .
Mohammed Rashid scored the decisive 72nd-minute winner; Youssef Ezzejjari equalised in the 50th minute .
Alfred Planas had put Inter Kashi ahead in the 14th minute .
East Bengal finished with 26 points from 13 matches , edging Mohun Bagan Super Giant — also on 26 points — on superior goal difference.
The title is East Bengal's first national league triumph in 22 years , since 2003 .
Head coach Oscar Bruzon led the club to its maiden Indian Super League crown.
East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for a national league crown on 22 May 2025, defeating Inter Kashi 2-1 in the ISL 2025-26 final at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata to lift their maiden Indian Super League title. The Red-and-Gold Brigade finished top of the table with 26 points from 13 matches, edging out Mohun Bagan Super Giant on goal difference in one of Indian football's most dramatic title finishes.
How the Final Unfolded
Inter Kashi stunned the packed stadium when Alfred Planas struck a first-time volley in the 14th minute after latching onto a long ball from David Munoz, silencing a crowd that had dared to dream. East Bengal's goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill had no answer to the Spaniard's clinical finish.
The hosts came close to levelling eight minutes later when Bipin Singh delivered a teasing cross and Youssef Ezzejjari somehow sent the ball over the bar from close range. Inter Kashi continued to threaten — Planas nearly doubled the lead in the 24th minute before Gill tipped behind, and Tomba Singh forced another save as nerves spread around the ground.
The Turning Point: Ezzejjari Equalises
East Bengal emerged after the break with renewed purpose. In the 50th minute, Anwar Ali produced a defence-splitting pass from deep inside his own half to release Ezzejjari. The Moroccan — the league's top scorer — outpaced marker Munoz, reached the ball ahead of goalkeeper Shubham Dhas, and nutmegged the advancing keeper before rolling the ball into the empty net. The stadium erupted.
Rashid Delivers the Winner
The breakthrough came in the 72nd minute through substitute Mohammed Rashid. Bipin Singh whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank, and Rashid stretched to guide the ball into the far corner. The bench emptied. Supporters jumped barricades. The noise inside Kishore Bharati Krirangan became deafening.
East Bengal held on through a tense final stretch, tracking updates from Mohun Bagan's simultaneous 2-1 win over Sporting Club Delhi — a result that left both clubs level on 26 points. It was East Bengal's superior goal difference of five that ultimately settled the title.
Historic Significance
The victory marks East Bengal's first national league title since 2003, ending more than two decades of near-misses and heartbreak. Head coach Oscar Bruzon guided the club through a campaign that combined defensive resilience with clinical attacking play. Notably, this is the first ISL title for one of Indian football's oldest and most storied clubs, a result that resonates far beyond the final scoreline.
With the title secured, all eyes will now turn to East Bengal's AFC campaign prospects and whether the club can build on this breakthrough season.
Point of View
Among the most passionate in the subcontinent, nursed a 22-year drought. That the title was decided by goal difference, with Mohun Bagan winning their own match simultaneously, only amplifies the drama. The more pressing question now is structural: can East Bengal convert a single title into a sustained competitive programme, or will this remain an isolated peak? The ISL's financial model still favours clubs with deeper corporate backing, and Bruzon's squad will face aggressive poaching in the transfer window.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the ISL 2025-26 title?
East Bengal won the ISL 2025-26 title, defeating Inter Kashi 2-1 in the final at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 22 May 2025. It is the club's maiden Indian Super League title and their first national league triumph in 22 years.
How did East Bengal win the ISL title — by points or goal difference?
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant both finished the season on 26 points from 13 matches. East Bengal were crowned champions by virtue of a superior goal difference of five, after Mohun Bagan also won their final match 2-1 against Sporting Club Delhi.
Who scored for East Bengal in the ISL 2025-26 final?
Youssef Ezzejjari scored in the 50th minute to equalise after Alfred Planas had put Inter Kashi ahead in the 14th minute. Mohammed Rashid then scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute to seal the title for East Bengal.
When was East Bengal's last national league title before this?
East Bengal's previous national league title came in 2003, making their ISL 2025-26 triumph their first in 22 years. The victory ended one of Indian club football's longest waits for a top-flight crown.
Who is East Bengal's head coach for the ISL 2025-26 season?
East Bengal were managed by head coach Oscar Bruzon during the ISL 2025-26 season. Bruzon guided the club through a 13-match campaign that culminated in their historic maiden ISL title.
