A historic Federation Cup semi-final that saw Bhaichung Bhutia’s hat-trick and set an Asian record for the largest football crowd ever
As the anticipation builds for the first Kolkata Derby of ISL 2024-25, which also happens to be the 400th encounter between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC on October 19, 2024, at 7:30 PM IST, football fans in Kolkata can’t help but remember one of the most iconic moments in Indian football history—the Diamond Derby of 1997. This wasn’t just any derby; it was a match that set records, saw strategies collide, and immortalised a young Bhaichung Bhutia as a hero.
Fast-forward to now, and the Salt Lake Stadium is ready to witness history yet again. With a legacy of over a century, the Mohun Bagan and East Bengal rivalry has always been the heartbeat of Kolkata football. But nothing shook the city or the continent like the Federation Cup semi-final on July 13, 1997. The record-breaking crowd of 131,781 that day remains the highest attendance for a football match in Asia. Imagine the roar!
In 1997, Mohun Bagan’s coach, the tactician Amal Dutta, introduced a new formation—a 3-2-3-2’ Diamond System’—earlier that year. It had worked wonders for the team, crushing opponents with ease. Fans were mesmerised by the team’s sharp, attacking style and began calling Dutta the ‘Diamond Dutta.’ The stage was set for the Diamond System to shine in the Federation Cup semi-final, with Bagan brimming with confidence.
Amal Dutta- The Diamond Coach of Mohun Bagan // Picture Courtesy – Anandabazar
On the other side, East Bengal, led by the legendary P.K. Banerjee, wasn’t about to be overshadowed. Known for his pragmatic and defensive tactics, Banerjee came prepared. He aptly named his strategy the “Diamond Cutter,” aimed at neutralising Dutta’s attacking formation.
The media and the fans were buzzing—would the Diamond triumph, or would the Cutter shatter it? The city of Kolkata was excited, and everyone wanted to be part of it.
PK Banerjee with a young Bhaichung Bhutia // Picture Courtesy – News18
The derby day was scorching hot, but the fans didn’t care. In a stadium designed to hold 120,000, over 131,000 fans packed themselves in, making history. Mohun Bagan pressed hard from the start, earning seven corners in the first 25 minutes. But East Bengal’s defence held firm. Then, against the run of play, Nazimul Haq volleyed in the opener for East Bengal in the 25th minute, and the stadium erupted.
The second half belonged to one man—Bhaichung Bhutia. The 20-year-old prodigy scored a brilliant header just a minute after the break to make it 2-0. Although Chima Okorie pulled one back for Mohun Bagan in the 66th minute, Bhutia was unstoppable. In the 85th minute, he dribbled past defenders to score his second, and just three minutes later, he completed his hat-trick, cementing his name in the Kolkata derby’s rich history.
It was a 4-1 victory for East Bengal—a tactical masterclass by P.K. Banerjee. The ‘Diamond’ had been shattered.
This match was not just about the goals or the tactics. It marked the rise of Bhaichung Bhutia as one of India’s greatest footballers. His hat-trick that day was the first-ever in a Kolkata derby, and it symbolised the changing of the guard in Indian football.
The East Bengal team that crushed Mohun Bagan in The Diamond Derby // Picture Courtesy – East Bengal Club
Now, as we await the next big derby on October 19, the memories of that magical night in 1997 still linger. The Salt Lake Stadium, with its legendary past, is ready once more to welcome a new chapter in the Mohun Bagan vs. East Bengal saga.
