East Bengal (EB) ended a 22-year wait after lifting the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) after a dramatic final day in which five teams were still in the hunt to lift the trophy. The Kolkata giants defeated Inter Kashi 2-1 after going a goal down in a tense clash at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Thursday (May 21). After Alfred Planas gave Kashi a lead in the 14th minute, which meant they went into halftime with a 1-0 lead, Youssef Ezzejjari equalised in the 49th minute, while Mohammed Rashid scored the winner in the 72nd minute for the Red and Gold Brigade.
East Bengal won the title on goal difference (GD) after finishing level on points with arch-rivals Mohun Bagan (MB). Both teams had 26 points after 14 games with an identical tally of seven wins, five draws, and one defeat in the season. However, EB had a GD of 19 while the defending champions only had a GD of 11.
MB won their final game of the season against SD Delhi 2-1 in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 scoreline. They scored the equaliser in the 89th minute while clinching the win in the 8th minute of stoppage time. Mumbai City FC finished third after beating Punjab FC 2-0 in Delhi. Bengaluru FC finished fourth, while Punjab were fifth. Jamshedpur finished 6th after playing a 0-0 draw against Odisha FC.
The final 2025-26 ISL table |courtesy - Indian Super League
This is only the fourth instance of East Bengal winning the top division league after winning the 2000-1, 2002-03, and 2003-04. This marks the first instance of them lifting the prize in the ISL era (which started in 2014). They never won the competition in the I League era.
The result means that they will compete in the AFC Champions League two qualifiers playoff next year as one of the two Indian clubs alongside
Aayush Kataria is a Senior Copy Editor at Times Network with four years of experience, having started his career in the organisation. He is a key memb...View More
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