East Bengal FC roared back from a goal down to defeat Inter Kashi FC 2-1 and emerged the new Indian Super League champion. The triumph ended the Red and Gold Brigade’s 22-year wait for the country’s premier title.

A remarkable counterattack saw Inter Kashi take the lead in the 15th minute. Alfred Planas latched on to a deep cross from David Munoz and produced a spectacular volley to silence the East Bengal fans who had thronged the Kishore Bharati Stadium in large numbers to cheer the team.

The hosts responded strongly after the break, showing more urgency as they looked for the equaliser. The efforts were rewarded in the 50th minute when Youssef Ezzejjari swooped in on a through ball from Anwar Ali and calmly slotted the ball home. East Bengal nudged ahead in the 73rd minute when Mohammed Rashid timed his run to perfection, reaching a cross from Bipin Singh and guiding the ball home with an outstretched leg.

East Bengal held on to the lead, sparking celebrations in the dugout and the stands.

Bagan second

In the other match held simultaneously at the Salt Lake Stadium, defending champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant registered a comeback 2-1 victory over Sporting Club Delhi.

East Bengal and Bagan finished with 26 points in 13 matches. As their Kolkata derby had ended in a 1-1 stalemate, goal difference proved to be the tie-breaker (19 to 14).

The results

Inter Kashi FC 1 (Planas 15) lost to East Bengal 2 (Ezzejjari 50, Rashid 73); Mohun Bagan SG 2 (Manvir 90, Maclaren 90+9) bt Sporting Club Delhi 1 (Fernandes 63).

By beating Punjab FC 2-0 through goals by Hmingthanmawia Ralte and Vikram Singh, Mumbai City FC kept its end of the bargain on the final day of the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday. But it wasn’t enough for the title to come its way as East Bengal defeated Inter Kashi 2-1 in Kolkata to be crowned champion.

The result in the national capital ensured a third-placed finish for Mumbai City. Punjab ended fifth in the standings with 22 points from 13 games.

As the contest started to slip away from the host, its players lost composure. Rash tackles by Leon Augustine and Pramveer Singh – in the 67th and 90th minute respectively – meant Punjab was reduced to nine men by the end. Goal-scorer Vikram, with two yellow cards, was also sent off for Mumbai City towards the end of stoppage time.

After a drab first half, the game sprung to life only near the hour mark when Mumbai City’s Lallianzuala Chhangte and Jorge Diaz nearly combined for the opening goal. However, Punjab’s defence dealt with the danger tidily.

Barely a couple of minutes later, Punjab should have taken the lead. Off a corner taken by Daniel Ramirez, Nsungusi Effiong leapt over a defender and teed up Bede Osuji with a header. The substitute was unchallenged from close range, and yet failed to keep his shot on target.

Once Augustine was given the marching orders, Mumbai City made the most of the numerical advantage.

The result: Punjab FC 0 lost to Mumbai City FC 2 (Hmingthanmawia Ralte 80, Vikram Singh 90+11).

Mohun Bagan Super Giant missed the chance to move clear at the top of the table when it was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Inter Kashi FC at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday.

The result left Bagan level on 22 points with East Bengal FC after 11 matches but the latter stays ahead on goal difference. The two are now set for a virtual title decider in the ‘Kolkata derby’ on May 17.

Bagan, which dominated possession for most of the match, struggled to break down a compact and disciplined Inter Kashi defence.

The visitors, which saw their head coach Antonio Habas severing ties with a side just a day ago, did well in creating a wall in their enalty area that the host was unable to break.

Despite being under pressure for long periods, Inter Kashi created the best opportunity of the game in the ninth minute when Mohammad Asif missed an open goal from close range.

In the second half, Bagan head coach Sergio Lobera introduced Jamie Maclaren and Subhasish Bose to add more sharpness to the attack, but Inter Kashi’s organised defending continued to frustrate the host. Bagan came close on several occasions after the interval but their efforts went in vain as the forwards lacked the finishing touch needed to find a breakthrough.

The result: Mohun Bagan SG 0 drew with Inter Kashi FC 0.

Punjab FC will aim to bounce back in the Indian Super League when it faces Inter Kashi at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.

The side, coached by Greece’s Panagiotis Dilmperis, was stung by a heart-wrenching 2-3 defeat to Mohun Bagan Super Giant in its previous encounter on April 12.