With an expensive bunch of players, the revamped Tollygunge were the favourites. They now have goalkeeper Sumit Mukherjee and Saeed Akhinsaya (from FC Kochin), Abayomi Felix (East Bengal) and Chibuzor (Churchill Brothers) in their ranks. But they failed to click as a team. Moreover, BSF's veteran goalkeeper Bibhas Saha turned out to be the major difference between the teams.

Tollygunge dominated the show for the first 15 minutes but failed to convert their chances. Dipankar Biswas missed a sitter in the seventh minute by hitting across the goalmouth. Minutes later, Chibuzor's flicked on for Saeed Akinsaya whose powerful header went straight to Saha.

BSF then took control and with their defence holding strong, the Calcutta side found it difficult to make any goal-worthy moves.

After the change of ends, Gauranga Pal replaced Abhay Mahato upfront in the 59th minute. Two minutes later, on a counter-attack, he promptly headed in the winner after Tollygunge defender Sib Shankar Santara's header to clear the ball came to him.