New Delhi:
An extra time hat-trick from star striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie gave Churchill Brothers their second Durand Cup title, beating Mohun Bagan 3-1 in a dramatic summit clash here on Tuesday.
Odafe scored in the 100th, 105th and 110th minutes after Mohun Bagan striker Chidi Edeh had put his side ahead in the 95th minute at the Ambedkar Stadium under floodlights.
Churchill, who have been playing in the final of the tournament for the third successive year, thus finished runners-up last year to Mahindra United.
Carlos Alberto Pareira's boys also kept a clean slate against Mohun Bagan in the new season after they had beaten the Kolkata giants 2-0 in the final of the IFA Shield.
After Tuesday's loss, Bagan's number of Durand Cup title remains static at 16, the same as East Bengal's.
Churchill were also richer by Rs five lakhs for the title victory while Mohun Bagan pocketed Rs three lakhs.
Contrary to the scoreline, the high voltage match could not produce a single goal in the regulation time but it turned out to be a goal scoring spree in the extra time.
There was little to differentiate between the two sides in the first half. If Mohun Bagan had slight advantage in the first 20 minutes, Churchill had the edge in the remaining period of the opening 45 minutes.
Mohun Bagan's formidable strike duo of Chidi and Jose Ramirez Barretto posed constant threat to the Chirchil goal but the Goan side defence led by India central back Gouramangi Singh was equal to the task.
The Mohun Bagn defence also stood solid denying dreaded striker Odafe little room to manouvre.
Mohun Bagan made their attacks mainly from the right with the combination of Surkumar Singh and James Singh supplying crosses for Chidi and Barretto, who was a bit subdued on Tuesday.
In contrast, Churchill's attack mainly originated from the left with nimble footed Khanthang Paite delivering some fine crosses from the left.
Churchill could have taken the lead in the 39th minute but for a goal-line save by Bagan midfielder Snehasish Chaktaborty who cleared an Ogba Kalu fierce header from a corner taken from the right by Charan Rai.
The Goans were again denied by the woodwork in the last minute of the first half when Odafe's right footer beat goalkeeper Sangram Mukherjee but hit the right bar.
After the resumption, Mohun Bagan made some threatening moves but it was Churchill who had a chance in the 58th minute. A Charan Rai shot off a pass by Odafe was right on target but it was blocked by goalkeeper Sangram Singh.
Sangram again came to Mohun Bagan's rescue in the 67th minute, diving to his right to block a right footer from Charan Rai.
Taking cue form his opposite number, Churchill goalkeeper and India reserve Arindam Bhattacharya pulled off a brilliant save to his left from a Micky Fernandes free kick.
In the 83rd minute, Chidi's right footer from the top left edge of the box went out after touching the outstretched hands of a diving Churchill goalkeeper Arindam.
Five minutes into the extra time, Chidi rose over his marker to connect a free kick by Subhojit Majumdar, who replaced James Singh in the second half, past a hapless Churchill goalkeeper to the wild cheers of vociferous Mohun Bagan supporters.
But the same Mohun Bagan fans were stunned to silence five minutes later as Odafe shot past goalkeeper off a pass from his hardworking strike partner Reisangmi Vashum to restore parity.
Odafe again came to the party, heading home after a goalmouth scramble to give Churchil 2-1 lead.
Odafe then completed his hat-trick in the 105th minute latching on a Charan Rai pass and sending the ball to the left of the Mohun Bagan goalkepeer.