East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan: Recalling Top five Kolkata Derbies in last decade, featuring Kiyan Nassiri Hat-Trick to Do Dong-Hyun Freekick Heroics

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Top 5 Most Iconic Kolkata Derbies in the Last Decade: ISL 2024-25 will see its first Kolkata derby on Saturday, October 19, as East Bengal will face Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

While Kolkata derbies are always a feisty affair between these two iconic teams, Saturday’s match will be crucial as both teams will look to improve their league form, which has been disappointing so far. Ahead of the 'boro khela', let's take a look at 5 most iconic encounters in the last 10 years.

#5. East Bengal 4-0 Mohun Bagan (2015) – Do Dong-hyun’s free-kick heroics

Fans saw one of the best Kolkata derbies in memory on September 6, 2015, when East Bengal met Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League (CFL). Mohun Bagan came as the favourites on the back of an I-League winning campaign in 2014.

However, East Bengal had a performance to remember, shipping four goals past their opponents. The match is remembered for the performance of the South Korean winger Do Dong-hyun, who scored two fantastic free kicks in the first half to hand a massive advantage to East Bengal.

Do left East Bengal just a year later after falling out with coach Trevor Morgan, but his 12 goals in 10 matches in the 2015 campaign is still considered one of the greatest individual performances by any Red and Gold player to date.

#4. Mohun Bagan 2-1 East Bengal (2020) – Final I-League Kolkata derby

Mohun Bagan’s victory over East Bengal on January 19, 2020, was a routine match for most parts, with the Mariners taking a six-point lead in first place after a comfortable win against East Bengal.

Mohun Bagan dictated proceedings for most of the match, taking a 2-0 lead just past the hour mark despite some pressure from their opponent. East Bengal managed to reduce the deficit through a 72nd-minute goal from Marcos Jimenez, but it was too little too late to get anything from the contest.

This Kolkata derby is historical as it was the final meeting of these two teams in the I-League, as both clubs opted to join the Indian Super League, which was promoted to the status of the first division.

This was also the last time Mohun Bagan played official matches under that name, as their merger led to the new name ATK Mohun Bagan, which is now Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

#3. Mohun Bagan 3-1 East Bengal (2022) – Hattrick hero Kiyan Nassiri

Mohun Bagan continued their league dominance over East Bengal with a 3-1 win in the second Kolkata derby of the ISL 2021-22 season. However, more than the two iconic rival teams, this match is known for the youngster Kiyan Nassiri.

The then-21-year-old was a surprise selection from the bench, as he had played only 31 minutes of football in his first season in the ISL. However, the attacker, son of former East Bengal legend Jamshed Nassiri, scored a hattrick in the last 30 minutes to hand his team a 3-1 win.

Nassiri became the first player to score a hattrick in an ISL Kolkata derby, with the last one coming from Edeh Chidi in 2009. He also became the youngest hat trick scorer in ISL history.

#2. Mohun Bagan 0-1 East Bengal (2023) – Red and Gold win derby after four years

While East Bengal’s narrow one-goal win over Mohun Bagan might not have mattered in the bigger picture, it was a moment of euphoria for the Red and Gold brigade as it was their first win in the Kolkata derby since January 2019 – a gap of four years!

Nandhakumar Sekar got the solitary goal in the 60th minute after a cagey affair offering few chances to either team. East Bengal then held on in the rain-drenched Salt Lake Stadium, finally clinching their first win in that year’s Durand Cup.

Mohun Bagan would soon take revenge, defeating East Bengal with the same margin in the final match of the tournament, clinching their first Durand Cup title in 23 years.

#1. Mohun Bagan 2-2 East Bengal (2024) – Mariners fail to win ISL derby for the first time

East Bengal fans celebrated their 2-2 draw against Mohun Bagan on February 3, 2024, like a win, as this represented the first time that the Mariners failed to beat their rivals in a Kolkata derby since their shift to the ISL. In the six matches played before in the ISL, Mohun Bagan had emerged victorious all six times.

East Bengal were the better of the two teams on the day, giving the home team the runaround. They took a one-goal lead twice, drawing first blood with a clinical goal from Ajay Chhetri in the third minute.

Armando Sadiku levelled for the Mariners in the 17th minute, but East Bengal struck again in the 55th minute via their Brazilian star Cleiton Silva. The Red and Gold looked destined for a historic win, but Dimitri Petratos broke their collective hearts with an 87th-minute goal to draw the match level.

This clash was the perfect epitome of what a Kolkata derby is, full of late goals, heated confrontations, rash tackles, and penalties.