Fancied Goan outfit Salgaocar shocked Kolkata giants East Bengal 4-3 via the tie-breaker in the final to win the Durand Cup football tournament in Delhi on Monday.
The teams were level 1-1 at the end of full-time and extra-time.
In a repeat of the 1999 final, Salgaocar capitalised on costly misses by star strikers Baichung Bhutia and Mike Okoro in the penalty shoot-out to upset the defending champions.
The first-half was goalless, but after the change of ends Tomba Singh superbly bent the ball from a set piece to put the Goans ahead at the hour mark.
But three minutes later the stadium, packed with supporters of the red and gold brigade, erupted when Mahesh Gawli put the 15-time title winners on level terms with a fine header.
In the penalty shoot-out, Bhutia missed East Bengal's crucial fourth penalty, with the teams locked on 3-3, managing only a weak grounder, which was easily saved by goalkeeper Rajat Ghosh Dastidar.
Bhutia's miss came after Jatin Bisht missed from the spot for the Goans.
The Goans then went 4-3 up through Bello Rasaq before Dastidar leapt high to his right and saved a powerful shot from Okoro and ran to the centre line, where he was floored by the entire team which celebrated their second Durand Cup success.
The match began after a minute's silence in memory of former East Bengal player Keshab Dutta. The Kolkatans started with Okoro upfront and K Kulothungan and Malsawmtuluanga playing withdrawn. Regulars Bhutia and Alvito D'Cunha began on the substitutes list.
At the other end, Salgaocar threatened through Nigerian striker Felix Ibrebru, who was kept under close watch by East Bengal's Ghanaian skipper Suley Musah. Like in their earlier games, the two medios Tomba and Dharamjit weaved in through either flank.
East Bengal almost went ahead in the ninth minute when Okoro was brought down inside the box after a one to one with the rival 'keeper.
Dribbling past Salgaocar defender Prashant Jaggi, Okoro went inside the box with only the 'keeper to beat, but Dastidar challenged him and managed to clear the ball even as the two came sprawling down to the ground. Though the Kolkata supporters thought it was penalty, referee S M Balu from Karnataka waved to play on.
Nine minutes later, Salgaocar threatened through Tomba, who slipped past a rival marker and found Dhramjit, who relayed it to Ibrebru. But the Nigerian's powerful shot was well saved by 'keeper Sangram Mukherjee.
From the 26th to the 29th minute, East Bengal forced five corners in succession but Dastidar came up with two good saves twice to deny the champions.
It was Dastidar's day as he denied East Bengal time and again for the next 90 minutes as the match went into injury time and golden goal extra-time.
For the Kolkatans who were mourning the death of Dutta wearing black armbands, it was prolonged agony as they were dethroned by the Goans.
It was a rewarding win for Salgaocar, who pocketed Rs 400,000 and three trophies - the Durand Cup, the Simla Trophy, donated by the citizens of Simla in 1905, and the Rashtrapati Cup, donated annually by the President of India since 1950.
The awards to the five promising players of this 116th edition of the tournament went to striker Vimal Pariyar (TFA), defender Stanley Colaco (Dempo FC), wing back Abdul Rau Khan (Mahindra United), midfielder Dharamjit Singh (Salgaocar FC) and striker Kalia Kulothungan (East Bengal).
Air India's Bimal Ghosh was named the best coach.
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