East Bengal FC triumphed 5-3 in a penalty shootout against Sporting Club Delhi after a goalless draw at Salt Lake Stadium to reach the 135th Durand Cup final.
East Bengal FC booked their place in the final of the 135th Durand Cup after defeating Sporting Club Delhi 5-3 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw at Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite dominating the attacking play during regulation time, East Bengal were repeatedly frustrated in front of goal. In the third minute, Edmund Lalrindika's back-heel found Jesin in the box, but Bipin missed the resulting cross. East Bengal went on to hit the woodwork three times throughout the match, beginning with Basim Rashid's 16th-minute free-kick rattling the crossbar and Jesin T.K. striking the right post three minutes later.
Sporting Club Delhi earned a spot-kick in the 33rd minute when Sandip Mandi brought down Rodriguinho in the box, but East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill denied Rodriguinho from the penalty spot. In the second half, Rashid was denied again in the 74th minute when his deflected shot struck the left post.
With no extra-time played under tournament regulations, the match moved straight to penalties. East Bengal converted all five of their spot-kicks, while Gill produced the key moment by saving SC Delhi's first penalty from Juan Sebastian Pena to secure the 5-3 shootout victory and send East Bengal into the Durand Cup final for the 28th time.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Football. Photo courtesy The Hindu Football.