Mohun Bagan Super Giant started their Durand Cup campaign with a 1-0 win against arch-rivals East Bengal in the opening match of the tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.Sahal Abdul Samad scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute, with goalkeeper Vishal Kaith making several saves to help. Mohun Bagan keep a clean sheet of paper.The deciding moment came when Mohun Bagan were on a high. Youngster Kiyan Nassiri won close to the penalty area for East Bengal before driving on the line and sending the ball into the goal. Manvir Singh tried to back-heel but failed to connect, allowing the ball to go to Sahal, who slotted it into an open net.The win marked a successful start for Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilberis.
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His side remained composed throughout the match, with Kaith leading the defense and Rahul Bheke helping to keep the East Bengal opposition quiet.For East Bengal, it was a losing start under new coach Antonio Habas despite a good showing.The first half was a competitive affair, with Mohun Bagan seeing more of the ball while East Bengal looked to create an advantage in the fightback. Neither team had a chance to score before halftime as the defense held firm.East Bengal piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes and stayed long in Mohun Bagan’s half in search of an equaliser.Jeakson Singh tried to find PV Vishnu with a long pass from the ground, but the ball went wide. Soon after, Mohammed Rashid met a loose ball on the edge of the box with a first-time volley, but Deepak Tangri produced a timely block to deny the effort.East Bengal’s best chance came in the 87th minute when Vishnu delivered a cross from the left. Dani Ramirez took a touch near the post, but the ball hit the outside of the post and went into the back.Kaith then pulled off a game-saving goal in the second minute of stoppage time. Ramirez floated in a cross to the far post where Rashid connected from close range, but Kaith dived to his right to make a clean save and seal victory for Mohun Bagan.The tournament continues on Sunday in Ranchi, with Jamshedpur FC taking on defending champions NorthEast United FC in a Group C match.