Three positives from East Bengal's dominant start to Durand Cup 2025

East Bengal have won the Durand Cup 16 times in history.

East Bengal had a dominant start to their 2025 Durand Cup campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of South United FC in the opening game of the tournament. The Red & Gold Brigade lit up the Salt Lake Stadium (Kolkata) with a thrilling attacking display, scoring many goals and seeing their new signings impress in their official debuts as well.

After having been eliminated in the initial knockout stages in the 2024 Durand Cup, Oscar Bruzon’s side will be determined to go all the way to win the competition this year. They are prioritising the competition by fielding their first-team players, and the win over South United provided many reasons for excitement for the fans.

The Indian Super League (ISL) side provided a real tour de force with their performance in the Durand Cup opener, being at their clinical best and playing some really attractive football to win over the fans.

There were many things to be joyful about for the performance, but only a few particular positives from the win really stand out. Here we look at the major positives from East Bengal’s dominant start to the 2025 Durand Cup campaign.

Also Read: Durand Cup 2025: Five-star East Bengal rout South United FC in opening match

3. Dimitrios Diamantakos back to his sharpest

Dimitrios Diamantakos might not have been in the starting lineup for East Bengal, but he made a significant impact for his side after coming on as a substitute.

The Greek forward is under pressure to prove his quality in the 2025-26 season after being retained by Oscar Bruzon for the campaign. To his credit, at least he had an impressive start to the campaign with a dominant display against South United.

Diamantakos looked lively with his movement and link-up play in the final third, being a proactive presence in the opposition half. He produced a lovely assist for Bipin Singh’s goal with a beautiful pass that cut through the South United backline.

Diamantakos was also fortunate enough to get among the goals as his free-kick went through the goalkeeper, but he looks motivated and confident enough to terrorise opponents this season.

2. New signings shine

East Bengal fans were able to get their first look at some of their new signings from the 2025 summer window in their win over South United FC. Mohammed Rashid and Matrand Rana were able to make their full debuts for the Red & Gold Brigade and helped their side keep a strong defensive line for the majority of the game.

Rashid was particularly energetic in covering a lot of ground for his side, winning back possession in key areas and also moving the ball forward with his crisp passing prowess.

Rana held together a strong defensive line with Anwar Ali and looked comfortable in Bruzon’s defensive line. Bipin Singh also made his East Bengal debut after coming on as a substitute in the second half, as he went past the defensive line to score an impressive goal to make it a memorable debut.

Edmund Lalrindika also made his (second) debut for East Bengal, with his movement and overall link-up play tormenting the defenders. Fortunately for Bruzon, the new players seem to be an ideal fit for his system and he will hope that the new arrivals can maintain their solid form for the entirety of the Durand Cup campaign and beyond.

1. Captain Naorem Mahesh Singh thrives in a leadership role

The Durand Cup 2025 opener for East Bengal was also the first game in which Naorem Mahesh Singh played in their new club captain. The India international has major responsibilities on his shoulders as the new East Bengal skipper, but doesn’t appear to be bogged down by the pressure at all.

Instead, he looked really determined and confident to help East Bengal excel in their game against South United. Mahesh Singh was a real livewire in the key areas in the opposition half, often moving into the open spaces in central areas to help pull the strings in creating attacking chances.

After helping his side control things in the opposition half, Mahesh Singh capped off a five-star performance by scoring a stunning long-range strike with his right foot.

It seems like captain Mahesh might be the inspiration East Bengal have lacked for the last few years, and this new prestige will compel him to take his performances to a whole new level.

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