diamond harbour stun east bengal 2-1 in durand cup semi
Debutants earn historic final berth as Justin nets winner after turbulent exchanges.
In a dramatic Durand Cup 2025 semifinal at Salt Lake Stadium, Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC) pulled off a stunning 2-1 upset over East Bengal FC (EBFC) making history by becoming the first debutants to reach the final. The breakthrough came from Mikel Kortazar’s spectacular bicycle kick in the 66th minute, only for East Bengal's Anwar Ali to level the scores with a long-range stunner just a minute later. The pendulum swung dramatically again when ex-East Bengal man Joby Justin struck the winner in the 83rd minute, nodding DHFC into a fairy-tale final. East Bengal, who rode a wave of confidence after beating Mohun Bagan in the quarters, were left stunned. DHFC, under the masterful coaching of Kibu Vicuna, now prepare to complete their remarkable journey in the final. Meanwhile, EBFC must pick up the pieces after falling just short in a match that swung on razor-thin margins.
