If you were near KD Singh Babu Stadium yesterday evening, you could feel the excitement in the air. The stadium lights were blazing, and a crowd had gathered outside, donning sports jerseys emblazoned with the names of their favourite stars.

But this wasn't an IPL match in Lucknow, and the names on the jerseys weren't Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. Instead, the buzz was for a football match—and not just any match, but a clash between arch-rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal FC.

The match drew an impressive crowd, and the players on the field delivered a thrilling performance. We were there, and here's our take on this rare and unforgettable football showdown in Lucknow.

As soon as the players stepped onto the pitch, they were greeted with loud cheers. Hardly a few minutes into the game, Mohun Bagan's Suhail Bhat put the ball in the back of the net to even louder cheers, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

This electrifying start set the tone for the match, which was filled with quick passes, fast-paced counter-attacks, and a skillful nutmeg. With one goal from each side and a red card in the second half, the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

The match then went to penalties, where Mohun Bagan held their nerves to beat East Bengal 3-2. The winning penalty led to jubilation among some spectators, while East Bengal supporters let out a sigh of resignation.

Regardless of which side you supported, the game provided two hours of thrilling football, leaving the Lucknow crowd eager for more.

As for the people in the stands, they ranged from school kids and aspiring football players to families and friend groups of all ages.

One of them was 29-year-old Gaurav who had left work an hour earlier to watch the game. Speaking to Knocksense, he said "Football matches like this are played every weekend in England cities. I wish it happened more often in Lucknow, as well. I swear I'll not miss a single game".

Looking at how invested the crowd was in the game, we believe all of them would not miss such games if they happened more often. Be it a foul or a nice little trick by a winger or even a good save by the goalkeeper, the Lucknow crowd cheered, jeered, and hooted throughout the game!

It had been quite a while since Lucknow's KD Singh Babu Stadium had been flocked by fans for a sports event. But yesterday night's football match in Lucknow brought this iconic stadium back to life, in every sense of the word.

So, if you were in the stands for the first-ever Kolkata Derby in Lucknow, do let us know about your experiences at the game. And if you missed out on it, well, all we've got to say is...better luck next time.