#3 East Bengal 4-1 Mohun Bagan, July 1997
A game that can only be likened to the one Barcelona and Inter Milan played out in the semi-finals of the 2010 Champions League, this one was not only a treat for the eyes but has also permanently made its place in the annals of Indian football history.
Amal Dutta’s infamous “Diamond Formation” went for a toss that day, as an incredible Bhaichung Bhutia ripped apart the Bagan defence with his skill and pace and netted an outstanding hat trick.
PK Banerjee, on the other hand, firmly established himself as one of India’s all-time great coaches, while a record 131,000 attending the game witnessed the rise of one of India’s greatest footballers ever in the form of the Sikkimese Sniper, Bhaichung Bhutia. Cheema scored the consolation goal for the Mariners, but it was too little too late.
