East Bengal end 22-year wait; win maiden ISL title

KOLKATA: East Bengal are back from the dead and back as the kings of Indian football league.The long wait is over. The red and golds’ last national title came in 2003-04, when the top thing in Indian football was called the National Football League.

It was an era they lorded over.

But 2007 onwards, since it rebranded as the I-League, East Bengal never saw the pinnacle, despite finishing runners-up a number of times.

On Thursday — in the ISL, this time — needing a win to clinch the issue, Oscar Bruzon’s red-and-gold brigade fell to an early setback when Alfred Planas put debutants Inter Kashi with a brilliant finish in 15 minutes. But they showed why they looked different this season, rallying and responding with urgency, fearlessness and never-say-die mentality that had been their calling card under Bruzon.Youssef Ezzejjari brought home the equalizer five minutes after the break, making the most of Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas’ indecision and just when things seemed to slipping away, Mohammad Rashid provided the ‘Aguero-moment’ for the city side in the 73rd minute, providing finish to Bipin Singh’s deftly-executed centre.When referee Aditya Pura kayastha blew the final whistle, fans stormed the pitch.It was a moment of redemption for the team and its fans. Days after Arsenal ended their 22-year-wait in England, East Bengal followed a similar script, laying their hands on a national league trophy for the first time since 2004.Defending champs Mohun Bagan also came from behind to defeat SC Delhi 2-1, but finished second on goal difference. Mumbai City, who downed a 9-man Punjab FC 2-0, completed the ISL top three.