Kolkata: East Bengal secures dominant win in Durand Cup fixture

By Arjun Nair / 31.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read

East Bengal’s commanding performance

East Bengal FC achieved a significant victory in a Durand Cup Group A fixture, defeating CISF Protectors by a score of 8-0 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. The match, played on Friday, saw East Bengal establish a 3-0 lead before halftime. The team continued its strong offensive performance in the second half, adding five more goals to secure all three points.

Vishnu PV was a key player for East Bengal, scoring a hat-trick. Other goal scorers included Jesin T.K., who netted two goals, and Jeakson Singh. An own goal by CISF Protectors captain Mohammad Khalid also contributed to East Bengal‘s tally. This decisive win allowed East Bengal to rebound from a previous derby loss.

Tactical adjustments and team changes

Both teams made several changes to their formations and lineups for the match. East Bengal FC head coach Antonio López Habas opted for a 4-3-3 system, implementing six changes from the squad that played in the Kolkata Derby against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The changes included Phurba Lachenpa, Hardik Bhatt, PV Vishnu, Daniel Ramírez, Mohamad Basim Rashid, and Jesin TK coming into the starting lineup.

These players replaced Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Jay Gupta, Rohit Kumar, Rohit Danu, Bipin Singh, and David Lalhlansanga. Meanwhile, Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Sandip Mandi, Jeakson Singh, and Edmund Lalrindika maintained their positions in the team.

CISF Protectors also made adjustments, with head coach Shehzad Khan setting up his side in a 4-4-2 formation. Captain Mohammad Khalid returned to the lineup in place of Pawan Pratap Singh, and Aditya replaced Thangminlien Haokip in defense. The remaining starting players for CISF Protectors retained their places as they aimed to build on their previous outing.

Shillong Lajong’s winning start

In another Durand Cup fixture, Shillong Lajong FC began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Nongkseh Sports and Cultural Club. This match, referred to as the Shillong Derby, was the opening fixture of Group E and took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

The goals for Shillong Lajong FC were scored by Everbrightson Sana and Tremiki Lamurong. These decisive goals secured a winning start for the team from Shillong in their first match of the tournament.

Match details and broadcast information

The Durand Cup 2026 match between East Bengal and CISF Protectors was played on Friday, July 31, with a kick-off time of 7:30 PM IST. The game was held at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.

For viewers in India, the live telecast of the match was available on the Sony Sports Network, specifically on Sony Sports 5 and Sony Sports 5 HD. Live streaming options were also provided through the Sony LIV app and website, accessible with a subscription.

East Bengal entered the match looking to recover from a losing start to the competition, having previously been defeated by Mohun Bagan. The team had also experienced a loss in the Durand Cup 2025 semifinal against Diamond Harbour FC, aiming for a better outcome in the current season. Coach Antonio Lopez Habas, who faced a defeat in his initial match in charge, made several changes to the team in an effort to improve their performance.

The final score of the East Bengal FC versus CISF Protectors match was 8-0, with goals from PV Vishnu (37’, 46’, 76’), Mohd Khalid (own goal, 42’), Jeakson Singh (45’+3’), Bipin Singh (64’), and Jesin TK (70’, 73’). In the other fixture, Shillong Lajong FC defeated Nongkseh SS & CC 2-0, with goals from Everbrightson Sana (70’) and Tremiki Lamurong (86’).

Source: newindianexpress.com