Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal: Top three players from thrilling Kolkata Derby in Durand Cup

East Bengal edged past Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the Kolkata Derby

The Kolkata Derby lived up to the fans expectations, as a heart-stopping battle saw East Bengal triumph over their local rivals Mohun Bagan by a nail-biting 2-1 margin in the Durand Cup quarter-final. The victory was an explosive end to East Bengal’s recent losing run against their arch-nemesis, Mariners, and a demonstration of their determination and tactical discipline under head coach Oscar Bruzon.

While the Mariners and the Red and Gold Brigade battled hard till the last whistle, East Bengal’s clinical finishing and solidarity in the midfield proved to be the difference-maker between them and their counterparts. Though a second-half goal by Mohun Bagan sparked a thrilling comeback, it fell short of getting past the East Bengal defensive unit.

Dimitrios Diamantakos scores twice as East Bengal snatch away the bragging rights of the Kolkata Derby! #IndianFootball #DurandCup #MBSGVSEB pic.twitter.com/Fu4TESefWF

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 17, 2025

The derby was a display of individual brilliance from both sides, but a couple of players stood head and shoulders above the rest and defined the script of this match. Here, we look at the top three performers of the East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan Kolkata Derby clash.

Also Read: Durand Cup 2025: Dimitrios Diamantakos scores twice to guide East Bengal to memorable win over Mohun Bagan in Kolkata Derby

3. Anirudh Thapa

Anirudh Thapa was arguably the best player for the Mariners in the Kolkata Derby. The 27-year-old made his presence felt both defensively and offensively throughout the game and was present at the right place at the right time whenever the team needed his help.

When the opponents were having a havoc of attacks at his goal, Thapa took the backseat and vested charge of the defensive duties. In the 68th minute, Thapa found the back of the net off a well-planned corner, curling the ball past the traffic inside the box to keep Mohun Bagan alive and provide them a glimmer of hope to make a comeback.

Apart from this, he was tireless in the midfield, pressing the opponents, winning back possession and distributing the ball to the final third with precision.

2. Anwar Ali

Anwar Ali was rock solid in the backline, and along with Kevin Sibille, he created a compact defensive fortress which neutralised almost all the attacking initiatives of Mohun Bagan. The defender had an excellent presence of mind and was alert to keep all the potential threats away. With solid positioning, Anwar intercepted the Mariner’s advances and posed as a potent barrier.

With his physical domination, Anwar was able to maintain an impressive duel conversion rate and stood tall to clear away all the aerial balls delivered by the opponents into the penalty box. Kept the eyes on the ball and nullified the attempts made by players like Liston and Sahal.

When the opponents were aggressively attacking in the final minutes of the game, Anwar marshalled the defence, kept his calm and maintained composure, ensuring his team did not concede the equaliser.

1. Dimitrios Diamantakos

Dimitrios was a total nightmare for the Mohun Bagan defence. The Greek striker came in as a substitute early in the game in place of injured Hamid Ahadad and from the very first involvement, his performance was nothing short of a masterclass. With his accelerated runs and off-the-ball movements, Dimi consistently troubled the opponent’s backline, creating confusion and forcing errors.

Just ahead of the break, Diamantakos made no mistake to capitalise the penalty opportunity as he found the bottom left corner, beating the keeper, and breaking the deadlock for his side. Later, in the second half, he won the ball in the 18-yard box, made a half turn, and took a shot at goal from a tight angle, to double the advantage for East Bengal, leaving Vishal Kaith just as a mere spectator.

With an immense workload and a hunger to score, Dimi’s contribution to East Bengal’s attacking build-up earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match recognition.

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