On December 7 in Fatorda, the AIFF Super Cup saw FC Goa lift the trophy for the third time, edging out East Bengal FC after a tense 6‑5 penalty shootout at the PJN Stadium. Both sides created plenty of chances but failed to capitalize in the 90 minutes, a first for a Super Cup final. In regulation, captain Borja Herrera and Mohamad Basim Rashid missed their spot‑kicks, while Kevin Sibille, Saul Crespo, Miguel Ferreira and Anwar Ali converted for East Bengal. Javier Siverio, Dejan Drazic, Muhammed Nemil and David Timor hit the net for FC Goa, pushing the contest into sudden death; Udanta Kumam and Sahil Tavora steadied the hosts and Hamid Ahadad scored while PV Vishnu missed for East Bengal.
From the opening whistle, the game swung back and forth. The hosts were buoyed by a booming crowd and got early set‑piece chances that East Bengal defended well. East Bengal regrouped quickly, with Ferreira’s 12th‑minute drive beating goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill before wide, and Bipin Singh’s early wide work and a 20th‑minute low cross that left Goa in shock but was cleared by Mahesh Naorem. Goan midfield adjustments—replacing Boris Singh and Ronney Willson with Udanta and Nim Dorjee Tamang—gained structure and began to neutralise East Bengal’s threats.
Mahesh continued to loom around the box, linking beautifully with Bipin in the 43rd minute, but his volley was denied. In injury time, Hiroshi Ibusuki drove him deep, only to be thwarted by Aakash Sangwan. After the break, Goa surged forward: Ayush Chhetri’s long‑range attempt missed wide, and Timor set up Drazic for an offside. East Bengal’s counterattacks kept building, with Bipin’s accurate crosses finding Miguel and Ibusuki, none of which materialised. A near‑goal from PV Vishnu in the 74th—an inside‑the‑area slip‑shot that slipped past Hrithik Tiwari’s fingertip—left goalkeepers and fans holding their breath, but it was denied.
Goa responded with Brison Fernandes’ long‑distance rock that struck the post at 77 minutes. A minute later, Borja’s precise pass to Drazic allowed the Serb to head the ball, but it sailed wide. Pol Moreno came close to scoring for Goa in the 81st, but a clearance from midfield misfired into the East Bengal net, which goalkeeper Gill tipped onto the bar at the last moment.
The extra‑time period added drama but fewer scoring chances. Siverio’s rebound shot was blocked by Gill in the 107th minute, and a Timor header was saved by the same goalkeeper in the 114th. Despite several penalty saves in the shootout, the fate rested on the missed spot‑kicks—especially East Bengal’s too many missed attempts—which ultimately handed FC Goa the victory.
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