East Bengal had 8 shots on goal compared to 7 from Mohun Bagan. Both the teams had 5 shots on goal but what matters is the two goals that the Mariners managed to score.
The Red and Gold have been miserable when it comes to putting their chances away and that came back to haunt them today.
This also means East Bengal will end the season without any silverware at the national stage. They began the I-League so well riding on the wave of positivity brought in by Trevor Morgan's appointment.
But it all began to fall away in the middle before they defeated Bengaluru and looked like they had it in them to go all the way. However, their wheels fell off late on and the defeat to Mohun Bagan in the second leg was the final nail in the coffin.
Mohun Bagan win their second consecutive Kolkata Derby and this one ensures that Bagan book a place in the final where they will take on Bengaluru FC who defeated I-League champions 1-0 earlier today.
90+2' - Ball in from Jairu and Yusa clears at the near post.
Bagan launch a counter of their own it's Jeje up their all alone. Katsumi finally provides an overlap but Jeje elects to come back in from the right and his shot off of his left foot is deflected and out for a corner.
84' - MB SCORE!! AND THAT SHOULD BE GAME OVER!! AND WHAT A GOAL!!
Duffy with an excellent interception. He goes down the right and then cuts back to Katsumi. The skipper finds Sehnaj who plays in Yusa with a delightful ball.
Yusa waits and plays in a cross. Little behind Balwant but the forward sorts his body out and hits that on the fly and on the volley - his body parallel to the ground.
Jairu with another great ball from the right. It's for Wedson in the back post. He rises above Kotal but his header back into the box is blocked by Eduardo.
That attack leads to a Bagan break led by Sony Norde. He breaks down the left and then finds Balwant in the middle. He has Katsumi on the right totally free but instead, he goes for a shot.
Ball in from the right on the left from Jairu. Plaza finally gets his head to it and keeps it on target but Debjit with a fantastic save to keep it 1-0.
They have the big men in now and Plaza heads it forward for Robin Singh to run into. But Anas is there to shepherd into the hands of the onrushing Debjit.
Plaza goes in heavily and I mean HEAVILY on Debjit as he came out to collect a cross from the right. He is way late and has flattened the Bagan keeper.
A mini scuffle breaks out but the players have kept a cool head.
Kotal penalised for going up with hand leading the way. Mehtab with the ball from the left and he cheekily tries to finds the top corner of the back post. But is wide of the mark.
Sehnaj on the charge and he plays in a rampaging Katsumi Yusa from the right. He gets the first touch on the ball. Goes down under the presence of Arnab Mondal. But referee says play on.
Souvik's header into Balwant who finds Duffy and he finds a charging Sony down the left. He unleashes a rocket with his first touch from an acute angle. If that had gone it, then it would have surely been the goal of the season.
East Bengal on the front foot and that comes to the left and then into the middle. But Sehnaj has it covered and gets fouled at the edge of his own box.
59' - Long throw in from the left from Subashish Bose. East Bengal clear their lines. Could have been tricky for Anas but his header back to Debjit is firm.
Bad clearance from Anas there. Scuffs it and Plaza on it. Runs down the right-hand side of the box and drops his shoulder to cut inside. Takes a shot with his left. On target but Debjit is equal to the task.
Another great ball in with great pace and on the mark. Just needed a touch there. But no one in Green and Maroon able to do so. Subhashish fumbles but finally gathers.
53' - Ball into the back post. And Wedson rises the highest and nods it back towards goal but that is blocked. Duffy brings the ball out and sprays it to Sony on the left.
49'- Balwant again on the run on the right. Running the channels well. He cuts back and tries to chip it in for Katsumi in the middle but that is easily cleared.
EB playing at the back and finally a forward pass finds Wedson. Great first touch and he tries to play in Plaza but that is deflected.
Luckily that falls for him and he charges down the left side of the box. Cuts back and tries to curl it to the far post. Had Debjit beaten but inches wide.
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Join us again on the 21st of May for the final of the Federation Cup when Mohun Bagan takes on Bengaluru FC.
Till then, goodnight and goodbye.
- Souvik Roy Chowdhury (@souvikrc)