Match Date: October 25, 2009
Competition: I-League
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Setting the Stage: Dreams, Disappointments & a Hero in Waiting
To understand the gravity of this historic encounter, we must rewind to a time when the Indian Super League (ISL) was yet to be conceptualized and the pulse of Indian football beat strongly in the heart of Kolkata. Mohun Bagan, fresh from a heartbreaking runners-up finish in the 2008–09 I-League season, had fallen just short of glory—three points and a goal difference separated them from champions Churchill Brothers.
Yet, hope was not lost. The club quickly signed Nigerian striker Edeh Chidi, who had just tormented them in the final game of the season for Mahindra United. The Bagan faithful dreamed of a magical partnership between Jose Ramirez Barreto and Chidi. But the 2009–10 season didn’t begin as planned. Karim Bencherifa’s side stumbled early, while East Bengal, despite boasting a star-studded squad, also found themselves struggling.
Amid this uncertainty, the Kolkata Derby arrived—bigger than league tables, louder than form, and fiercer than reason.
A Derby Like No Other: The Match Unfolds
On October 25, 2009, the Salt Lake Stadium became a cauldron of emotions. The match was broadcast live, and legendary commentators Pradeep Roy and Manas Bhattacharya added their signature drama to the occasion.
East Bengal drew first blood. Nirmal Chhetri headed home from a Syed Rahim Nabi corner—1-0. But Mohun Bagan struck back instantly. Chidi equalized after a brilliant run by Surkumar Singh, who whipped in a low cross that the Nigerian converted with authority.
Two minutes later, Manish Maithani, the young midfielder from Delhi playing his debut derby, slotted in the second goal for Bagan. Madness had just begun.
The third came when Barreto floated in a cross and Chidi nodded home his second—3-1 in just over 30 minutes.
But East Bengal wasn’t done. They launched a stunning comeback with goals from Yakubu and Abel Hammond, leveling the score 3-3 before halftime. The Mohun Bagan defense looked rattled, and many pointed fingers at young goalkeeper Shilton Paul, who had replaced the seasoned Sangram Mukherjee.
Bencherifa acted swiftly. He brought on Sangram, tightened the backline, and urged his side forward.
The Second Half Surge: Chidi's Immortality
With the defense steadied, Mohun Bagan threw everything forward. Once again, it was Chidi who rose to the occasion.
The Nigerian striker completed his hat-trick and then added a fourth, sealing one of the most thrilling and emotionally charged derbies in Indian football history. Mohun Bagan won 5-3.
The Mariners hadn’t just won—they had exorcised old ghosts. In a rivalry where East Bengal’s famous 5-0 win in 1975 was often brought up, this eight-goal thriller offered poetic justice to generations of Bagan fans.
Full-Time Score & Goal Scorers
Team | Score | Goal Scorers |
Mohun Bagan | 5 | Edeh Chidi (4), Manish Maithani |
East Bengal | 3 | Nirmal Chhetri, Yakubu, Abel Hammond |
Also Read | Mohun Bagan Day: Immortal XI’s Journey of 1911 IFA Shield Triumph
