Nearly 30 thousand East Bengal fans looked so ecstatic that they seemed to have come out of the 'curse' on Saturday evening at the Salt Lake Stadium. 

Nandhakumar Sekar, the 27-year-old striker from Tamil Nadu had released them from the curse through an excellent 20-yeard curling left-footer from the right that went through the far corner past the diving Vishal Kaith in the 60th minute. 

East Bengal defeated arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giants (MBSG) after four years in their Durand Cup group league match. It should be mentioned that East Bengal won against fancied green-and-maroon on the day which fielded its stars like Australian World Cupper Jason Cummings, Australian national footballer Dimitri Petratos, one of the most expensive signings this season, Anirudh Thapa, and the country's one of the most promising footballers Sahal Abdul Samad. 

But talking about the quality of football the exhibition was mediocre, especially in the first 45 minutes. Both the teams tried to earn possession in the central midfield without any constructive effort to penetrate the opposition defense, dishing out incisive passes. 

Their aimless runs down the flanks had no sharpness. The ball distribution in the attacking third looked so futile that defenders stole the limelight in the first session.

Mohun Bagan got a freak chance in the 33rd minute. But Manveer Singh squandered. 

Cummings and Petratos entered the field in the 55th minute as substitutes. Both the foreigners struggled to gain the required fitness for the match. The reflection was there. A left-footer by unmarked Cummings inside the 18-yard box went wide. Petratos also delivered a free header from inside the box wide above the target. 

MBSG’s Spanish coach Juan Ferrando also tried his luck by fielding Suhail Bhat in the last half of the match. Bhat who has scored eight goals already in the ongoing CFL premier Division did not have the opportunity. 

Amidst the poor exhibition of football, the only thing that is to be cherished is the splendid goal.