Five memorable I-League goal fests at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium

East Bengal 3-5 Mohun Bagan (October 25 2009)

Current East Bengal striker Edeh Chidi made history while playing for Mohun Bagan

Almost two weeks after that six-goal thriller, Kolkata’s Big Two played out one of the all-time great derbies which eventually had historical significance. From the very first minute it looked like a game where defences would struggle as an unmarked Nirmal Chhetri gave East Bengal the lead from a corner. But Mohun Bagan responded with three goals as Edeh Chidi bagged a brace and Manish Maithani scored the other. East Bengal’s defending was horrendous but Mohun Bagan’s backline was also charitable as they allowed Yusif Yakubu to net a quick-fire double and make it 3-3 at halftime. East Bengal coach Subhash Bhomick had the option to bring on Nigerian central defender Uga Okpara for his debut in the second half and improve the defence but that didn’t happen and Chidi scored just after the interval to become the second player after Bhaichung Bhutia to score a hattrick in this fixture. Midway through the second period Chidi surpassed Bhaichung by netting his fourth and Mohun Bagan scored five past their fierce rivals for the very first time. Their fans claimed that the revenge of losing 5-0 to East Bengal in the 1975 IFA Shield final had been taken.