East Bengal’s 22-year drought for a major Indian trophy ended on 21 May. And it ended in the most dramatic fashion.

Ultimately it was “Ilish” who won after 22 years of pain, near misses, mismanagement and even a fight for survival in the top flight of Indian football. All those stories came to an end when East Bengal beat Inter Kashi FC 2-1 in Kolkata, with goals from their star striker Youssef Ezzari and crowd-favourite Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid.

And the icing on the cake for many anxious and distressed Bengalis who have waited for this moment for over two decades could be that East Bengal triumphed over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giants in the title race itself.

Mohun Bagan won their encounter against Sporting Club Delhi 2-1 and even celebrated with hopes of sealing their fate, but missed out on winning the title on goal difference. After years of dominance, this year it was Mohun Bagan’s turn to see their arch-rivals finally cross the finish line ahead of them.

The Indian Super League, no matter how chaotic the season felt before and during the campaign, somehow produced its best performance on the final day of the tournament.

Heading into the final round, four teams still had a realistic chance of winning the title. East Bengal entered the night on top of the table, followed by defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants, while Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC also remain in the race. Even Jamshedpur FC still has a chance of a mathematical miracle to pull off one of the wildest titles ever seen by Indian football.

The tension was running high in exactly the way East Bengal fans have become painfully accustomed to over the years, with the anxiety lasting till the very end. And on the final day of this ISL, the anxiety set in almost immediately.

Within just nine minutes against a lowly Inter Kashi team, East Bengal had already conceded defeat. And this was not even a common goal. Alfred Planas produced a thunderous volley that flew with such technique and theatrics that it immediately felt dangerous beyond the scoreline.

For a few seconds, it felt as if half of West Bengal had their hands on his head, mouth or perhaps heart.

The flashbacks started returning immediately.
2012.
2014.
2018.
They all finished as runners-up. All those league titles are slipping away. All those final day heartbreaks.

But as the Bengali saying goes, “Hal Cherona Bandhu” – don’t lose hope, my friend. And for once football finally smiled on the East Bengal supporters.

Oscar Bruzon, in charge of East Bengal, stood on the historic touchline in what might have been his final match, his eyebrows furrowed with nervousness. He knew exactly what this night meant.

In the 49th minute, Yousuf Ezejari scored the equalizing goal for East Bengal. Despite the attendance being only around 9,000, Kishore Bharti Krirangan burst into flames. The fear broke. Hope returned.

And then suddenly, the night started turning completely red and golden.

In the 62nd minute, Clarence Fernandes gave Sporting Club Delhi the lead against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The noise inside the Salt Lake Stadium subsided, almost so much that it felt like you could hear the loud celebration coming to Kishore Bharti from the other end of Kolkata.

But East Bengal did not want a repeat of the past. And it was their Palestinian strongman Mohammed Rashid who ensured this.

72nd minute.
East Bengal took the lead.
East Bengal got the trophy with one hand

A hand that had waited for more than two decades to finally touch silver again.

And after that, nothing else matters.

Mohun Bagan has no equal.
Not Mumbai City, who scored two late goals against Punjab FC.
Later Mohun Bagan did not take the lead.

Nothing matters.

The dream of East Bengal refused to end.

While this ISL season will probably be remembered with bitterness due to the turmoil surrounding Indian football, uncertainty over the future of the league and the exhausting battle to keep the competition alive, East Bengal fans will happily enjoy every bit of it.

And honestly, after 22 years of waiting, they deserve it.

– ends