East Bengal FC were crowned 2025–26 Indian Super League champions on Thursday after edging Mohun Bagan Super Giant on goal difference in a breathtaking final-day finish to the truncated season.
With no playoffs or knockout stage in this revised ISL format, the league table alone determined the champions, and East Bengal survived a tense night to finish level on points with their Kolkata rivals before claiming the title through a superior goal difference.
At the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, East Bengal faced an immediate championship scare after Alfred Planas struck in the 14th minute to hand Inter Kashi FC an early lead and briefly swing the title race away from Oscar Bruzón's side.
Here's a look at that early volleyed strike from the Inter Kashi striker.
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A FINISH! 🤯🔥
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 21, 2026
Humanes' long ball found Alfred Planas, who struck it first time on the volley to shock the East Bengal FC faithful at the KBK. 🫣
Watch #KSHIEBFC LIVE on @fancode. 💻#FiveTeamFinale #ISL12 #HarHarKashi pic.twitter.com/a8xnZSgqFK
But East Bengal responded like champions after the break. Youssef Ezzejjari equalised in the 49th minute before club captain Mohammed Rashid produced the defining goal of the season in the 72nd minute.
Bipin Singh floated in an inch-perfect delivery from the right flank, which Rashid managed to meet inside the box to guide it past the keeper and complete the comeback.
Here's a look at the goal from Rashid that ended East Bengal's 22-year wait for the title.
Rashid converts from Bipin's delivery to complete the comeback, with East Bengal FC now closing in on league glory while the KBK roars in delight. 🔥
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 21, 2026
Watch #KSHIEBFC Live on @fancode. 💻#FiveTeamFinale #ISL12 pic.twitter.com/Q5IPm9sld1
East Bengal then survived a nervy finish filled with stoppage-time pressure and time-wasting cautions to secure the 2-1 victory and move onto 26 points. Moments after the final whistle, jubilant East Bengal supporters invaded the pitch in celebration as players and fans marked the club's historic title triumph together.
What a moment to be alive if you bleed Red and Gold! 😍
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 21, 2026
Mo Rashid, the captain, scores the goal to give East Bengal FC their first League title in 22 years. 👏
#ISL12 #KSHIEBFC #ISLChampion #JoyEastBengal pic.twitter.com/ZpwNvVriRK
Across Kolkata at Salt Lake Stadium, Mohun Bagan produced a stunning late turnaround of their own but still fell agonisingly short of retaining the title.
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The Mariners entered the night needing a major win to pressure East Bengal but were stunned in the 62nd minute when Clarence Fernandes leapt highest inside the area to give Sporting Club Delhi the lead.
Clarence Fernandes leaps high and heads home Abdul Hudu's cross to open the scoring at the VYBK! 🐦🔥
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 21, 2026
Massive moment in the #ISL12 title race.
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Mohun Bagan responded dramatically in the closing moments. In the 89th minute, Liston Colaço burst down the flank and whipped in a dangerous cross into the box, where Manvir Singh arrived at the near post to guide the ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
Mohun Bagan completed the turnaround in the final minute of stoppage time, with Jamie Maclaren scoring the winner in the 98th minute after eight minutes were added on. It was Liston once again who was the provider, slipping a precise pass into the penalty area for Jamie Maclaren, who escaped his marker and finished clinically first-time past Nora Fernandes.
Maclaren celebrated wildly by removing his shirt and was shown a yellow card as Salt Lake Stadium erupted.
The dramatic 2-1 victory lifted Mohun Bagan onto 26 points alongside East Bengal, but the Mariners ultimately lost the title race due to an inferior goal difference of +14 compared to East Bengal's +19.
Mumbai City FC also finished the season strongly with a 2-0 victory over Punjab FC, in a game that featured three red cards.
The contest turned decisively after Punjab's Leon Augustine was sent off in the 66th minute. Mumbai eventually capitalised through Hmingthanmawia Ralte's 79th-minute strike before Punjab's collapse deepened when Pramveer Singh received a straight red card in the 89th minute, reducing the hosts to nine men.
Mumbai City added a second goal in stoppage time, as Vikram Pratap Singh scored from a counterattack, to close the campaign on 25 points, finishing just one point behind the two Kolkata clubs. Vikram Singh also picked up a second yellow late in the game as Mumbai finished with 10 men.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur FC and Odisha FC played out the only goalless game of the evening, with a cagey 0-0 draw at the JRD Tata Sports Complex bringing little impact to the title race.
The final standings saw East Bengal finish top on 26 points with a +19 goal difference, ahead of Mohun Bagan on the same points but with a +14 goal difference. Mumbai City FC finished third on 25 points, while Bengaluru FC ended fourth on 23.
In a season with no postseason safety net, East Bengal's second-half comeback against Inter Kashi ultimately proved decisive, allowing them to protect their superior goal difference and secure the ISL title.
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