East Bengal lift their first-ever ISL trophy after beating Inter Kashi FC

Red and Gold Brigade ended their 22-year drought

East Bengal FC has been crowned as the Indian Super League 2025-26 season champions after they beat Inter Kashi in a dominant way. East Bengal staged a dramatic comeback over Inter Kashi FC as they won the game with a score line of 2-1. Alfred Moya scored first for Inter Kashi as Youssef and Rashid’s late two goals sealed the ISL title for East Bengal FC.

22 years of drought, 22 years of patience and the long wait has paid off as Oscar Bruzon’s side clinched their first ever ISL title. East Bengal FC not only won a trophy but also completed a dream that generations had waited for. From heartbreaks to glory, from criticism to ultimate history in the making, the Red and Gold Brigade etched its legacy with their great run of form in this entire season.

Alfred Moya came as a surprise package for Oscar Bruzon’s side as he scored the first goal, and from that moment, East Bengal FC really struggled to create chances. They have splattered the hope of a huge fan base, as East Bengal FC’s title chances looked very keen, irrespective of the first-half performance. But the game changed as Youssef scored the equaliser for the Red and Gold Brigade. And the winning goal was scored by Rashid as Bipin Singh delivered a great cross.

Inter Kashi dominated the first half as Alfred Moya strikes first

Inter Kashi FC fully dominated the first half of the period with their immense attacking football. After the first half, they were leading 1-0, relying on a goal by Alfred Planas Moya at the 14th minute of the game. From the first phase of the play, East Bengal FC looked slightly in their good mood as Youssef struck in the first minute of the game, but the ball went very far from the net. But the game was gone with the tempo created by East Bengal FC. For the first 10 minutes, despite the Red and Gold Brigade playing attacking football, but continuously denied by the Inter Kashi defence.

Miguel Figuera, the central man for the Red and Gold Brigade, made two occasions on which East Bengal FC easily went a single goal up by the time. At the 5th minute of the play, Miguel got a good chance where he struck the ball with a brilliant overhead kick, but Kashi’s side keeper, Shubham Dhas, made a good save, which relieved the Banaras side.

Then the game completely changed the aspect when at the 14th minute of the game, the star player from the Inter Kashi side broke the deadlock for his team against East Bengal FC. Right after that moment, they completely changed their gameplay and shifted to a low block system. A heavy tactical question arises, and East Bengal has not changed any kind of plans to rescue from that type of play. Another bad sign occurred when the right back of the Torchbeares MD. Rakip twisted his ankle and went down in the middle of the match. David Lalhlansanga replaced Rakip, who had been taken off due to an injury.

The first half was not in East Bengal’s favour, as the other games were drawn in the first half.

Youssef and Rashid sealed the ISL title for East Bengal

Inter Kashi FC started the second half with the same narrow approach, as the East Bengal players suffered a lot to find those spaces. But the wait has to be over, as the main man of East Bengal FC, Youssef Ezzejjari, equalised in the 50th minute of the game. A designated ball from Anwar Ali opened the defence, and Youssef calmly slotted the goal. East Bengal FC looked very dominant as they found the goal very early in the second half. Another chance arose for Youssef, but that was declared offside.

East Bengal FC looked very positive with their attack after all the efforts they have made. At the 57th minute of the play, Nandhakumar replaced PV Vishnu, and Lalchungnunga came as a substitute for Jay Gupta, who really struggled throughout the match with his decision-making. Just coming after in the pitch, the clutch man Nandhakumar Sekar unleashed a right-foot banger towards Inter Kashi keeper, but Shubham Dhas’s strong hands denied that.

The stage has completely changed, and the Stadium erupts as East Bengal FC finds another goal for the Moshal Bahini. MD Rashid scored a brilliant goal, which put them very close to the title. Bipin Singh set up the goal for East Bengal FC from the very left flank at the 72nd minute of the game. Inter Kashi FC tried to create some offside traps for their opponents with played high line several times, but the pairing of Anton and Rashid didn’t stepped their foot in that system. As Bipin Singh, whooping a cross and MD. Rashid calmly opened the scoring.

And that goal was the final stepping stone for East Bengal FC, which led them to become ISL 2025-26 champions after a long wait. The stadium was disrupted by East Bengal supporters after the final whistle was blown by Aditya Purkyayastha. Relief and joy from the fans as they stepped over the fencing of Kishore Bharati Stadium and celebrated with all of their beloved players. Souvik Chakraborty hugged MD Rashid as his final element of appreciation towards the goalkeeper from Palestine.

A game to be remembered for ages, a game that increased the blood pressure of many sides, not only East Bengal FC. As Mohun Bagan SG edged past SC Delhi at VYBK at the same time, followed by Mumbai’s thrashing win over 10-man Punjab, and Odisha spoiled Jamshedpur FC’s party.

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