Bagan scores five; buries 34-year old ghost

Sunday's match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan at the Salt Lake Stadium was to be a battle between two beleaguered teams, desperate for three points to bolster their dwindling fortunes in the I-league. In the end, though, there was more to it than just points and league table standings. The 5-3 scoreline in Mohun Bagan's favor itself created a record, as never before have so many goals been scored in a clash of the Maidan giants. Yet, the biggest talking point in the post-match frenzy was whether Bagan had finally exorcised the ghost of 1975!

The IFA Shield final on 30th sept., 1975 will forever be etched in the annals of Calcutta's football history and the minds of the countless fans of these two clubs. East Bengal had thrashed their rivals 5-0 that day, a scoreline that, for 34 years, has been the trump card for every EB supporter to win any argument on supremacy. But, all that has perhaps changed on Sunday. Bagan supporters now have a spring in their strides; they believe this victory has finally relieved them off the burden. Yet, East bengal fans think otherwise; even, past players from the two sides are divided in their opinions. Debate rages as to whether this latest win by Bagan could be compared to the one by East Bengal in 1975, which had turned out to be an entirely one-sided, humiliating affair. Mohun Bagan fans can hardly care less though !

Man of the match Nigerian Edeh Chidi scored 4 goals in the match, a record for the Calcutta derby, overwhelming, in the process, Bhaichung Bhutia's hat-trick for EB in the Federation Cup 0f 1997. Although, glaring errors in defense of both the teams is a cause for concern, yet the barrage of goals delighted the huge crowd on a day when football won, and the thrill of seeing goals being scored was the gift that every spectator got.