Mohun Bagan perfected a spectacular second-half resurgence to floor Aizawl FC by a record 5-0 margin and regain the Federation Cup football title after eight years, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. Aizawl, which had surprised everyone with a series of outstanding performances including the vanquishing of I-League champion Bengaluru FC, had to submit to Bagan’s supremacy.

The Kolkata giant produced one of its finest runs of success, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two in the five matches it played in the tournament and in the process extending the record of winning the title to 14. The last time Bagan had won the title was in 2008, when it beat Dempo 1-0 at home. Bagan, which had struggled in a barren first half, made a fantastic turnaround after the break.

Did You Know?

The Federation Cup, also known as Hero Federation Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-League has been started in 1997 (then called NFL), it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India. Presently it is the most important club tournament after the I-League, to which it has become a de facto League Cup. The winning club of the Federation Cup gets a chance to compete in the continental level in AFC Cup.