Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face an in-form NorthEast United FC in the finals of the 133rd UAE to host major global events in September which will be played on Saturday at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The defending champions were stretched in both their knockout matches by Punjab FC and Bengaluru FC, winning on penalties and will have their task cut out against a NorthEast side who have been clinical throughout the tournament. They got the better of Indian Army 2-0 and Shillong Lajong 3-0 in the quarterfinals and semi-finals respectively.

Mohun Bagan will have the backing of their loyal supporters and head coach Jose Molina talked about the home advantage for his team in tomorrow’s match.

“I think it’s really good to have home support but in the pitch it will be eleven players taking on eleven players. So it’s never an advantage to play in front of the home crowd. There will be pressure as the home side but the players are experienced enough to handle that,” Mohun Bagan star forward, Greg Stewart said.

“I feel a bit pressured to play in front of the home crowd. Because it is a do and die match. It’s going to be a tough match tomorrow against a very good NorthEast side,” Jose Molina was quoted in a release from Durand Cup as saying.

On the other hand, NorthEast Head Coach Juan Pedro Benali sounded excited to play in front of the Kolkata crowd, “It’s fantastic to play in front of such an amazing crowd in Kolkata. There is nothing to lose for us. We have played good football and have come here to give our best in front of such an amazing crowd, fantastic city and amazing people.”

Vishal Kaith has been in terrific form between the posts for the Mariners and will be once again key for them along with the star-studded attack line of Dimitri Petratos, Greg Stewart, Jason Cummings, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh.

NorthEast United’s defence led by their captain Michel Zabaco and Moroccan Hamza Regragui have let in just a solitary goal in the whole tournament.

Mohun Bagan have let in five goals in the two knockout matches and will look to rectify their mistakes against the solid attack line that consists of Jithin M.S, Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez who are constantly supplied balls from the midfield by the mercurial Moroccan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer. “NorthEast is a very good team. We have seen that throughout the tournament. They have good wingers. But we have full confidence in our boys and we will give our best in the pitch tomorrow”, commented Jose Molina about the opposition.

“We are here to give our one hundred percent and win the trophy, said NorthEast United Captain Michel Zabaco. They have are a very good team and have solid individual players but we will be playing to our game plan and come away with a win.” the Spanish defender added.

The finals promise to be an enthralling contest and at the end of 90 minutes or even penalties, one team will either be winning a record-breaking 18th Durand Cup title or the other team will be winning their first ever Durand Cup and according to the Highlanders Head Coach Juan Pedro Benali, “We have our weapons and they have theirs and it is going to be a terrific game and at the end of the match we will be congratulating the best team.”

Second-half goals from Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez ensured NorthEast United booked their place in the semi-finals of the Durand Cup 2024, overcoming a valiant Indian Army FT in the first quarter-final, here at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar on Wednesday. They will take on Shillong Lajong FC in the semi-finals after the I-League side recorded a win against East Bengal FC in the other knockout game played in the day.

Juan Pedro Benali fielded his side with Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez starting up front and Jithin M.S. and Ankith Padmanabhan starting on the wings. A change was also made in goal, as Gurmeet Singh started. Indian Army FT Head Coach Manish Wahi named a starting eleven packed with midfielders and Liton Shil as the lone striker.

NEUFC showed great intent from the first whistle to unsettle the Indian Army defence. The trio of Albiach, Fernandez and Jithin MS dominated proceedings in the initial exchanges with multiple attacks on the Army goal. Army goalkeeper Bhabindara Malla Thakuri made two reflex saves to deny Jithin and Fernandez and keep the scores level. The Army men absorbed the pressure and slowly made their presence in the match by controlling the midfield. They crowded the midfield and did not allow any space for the Highlanders midfield to find the forwards and on the other end, used the wings to good effect stretching the play.

The Indian Army FT looked particularly threatening in set pieces as Gurmeet Singh saved Pardeep Singh’s header. The Army Men dominated the rest of the half asking questions of the Highlanders’ defence. The Army men ended the half with a flourish as B. Sunil forced a fine save from Gurmeet Singh. Both coaches brought in changes for the second half and both sides started on fifth gear creating chances on both ends. Substitute Christopher Kamei’s effort skimmed the crossbar and at the other end, NorthEast substitute Thoi Singh’s effort was blocked by B. Sunil. The Highlanders finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute through a simple move.

Guillermo headed down a long ball from left-back Samte which was finished on the volley by Nestor Albiach. The Spaniard’s left footer found the bottom corner beyond the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper. NorthEast United FC could have doubled the lead minutes later but Guillermo’s headed effort was cleared off the line by Pardeep Singh.

The Highlanders doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute through a brilliant ‘scorpion kick’ finish by Guillermo Fernandez. Redeem Tlang‘s cross from the right wing was behind the Spanish forward who improvised with a looping finish above the head of the Army goalkeeper. The Indian Army tried to put pressure on the Highlanders but the defence held their ground to see off the game and book their place in the semi-finals.

Shillong Lajong FC stun East Bengal FC

In a gripping second quarter-final clash at Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday, Shillong Lajong FC edged past East Bengal FC with a 2-1 victory. Figo Syndai’s decisive winning goal came shortly after Nandhakumar Sekar had levelled the score, cancelling out Marcos Rudwere’s initial strike.

The match began with a shock for the Kolkata outfit as Rudwere put Shillong Lajong FC ahead in the eighth minute. Hardy Nongbri’s perfectly delivered corner was met by Rudwere, who outmuscled his defender to score. In response, East Bengal FC ramped up their efforts, attacking the Shillong goal persistently. Despite a flurry of chances, they struggled to test the goalkeeper effectively and squandered several opportunities.

East Bengal FC faced a further scare when Rudwere’s header from another set-piece struck the crossbar. Although the Red and Golds continued to press for an equaliser, they went into the break trailing. The second half saw both teams engaging in an end-to-end contest, with each side testing the other’s defensive and goalkeeping strengths. East Bengal FC’s persistence paid off in the 77th minute when substitute Vishnu PV set up Nandhakumar Sekar, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to equalise.

As East Bengal FC sought a winning goal, their aggressive push created openings for Shillong Lajong FC. The hosts capitalised on this and soon made their way back into the game. In the dying moments, a cross from Rudwere found Figo Syndai, who coolly slotted the ball past Prabhsukhan Gill to restore Shillong Lajong FC’s lead.

Despite East Bengal FC’s efforts to find another equaliser, Shillong Lajong FC held firm in the final minutes, securing their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought victory.

The Bidhannagar police commissionerate said that Sunday’s Derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan was cancelled apprehending attempts by some elements and organisations to create trouble at the Salt Lake stadium during some planned protests over the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. A senior officer of the commissionerate said that prohibitory orders under section 163 of BNSS have been imposed from 4 pm to midnight of Sunday to prevent any disruption of peace and five persons detained in this connection.

Plans were afoot by some organisations to protest the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor at the stadium during the Derby match between arch-rivals East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

There were indications in some social media posts that some supporters of the two iconic clubs would also jointly hold protests in this regard.

The IPS officer told reporters that there were specific intelligence inputs that attempts would be made to create violence during the Derby match at Salt Lake Stadium on Sunday by some miscreants.

“We had specific information that some groups and organisations would attempt to create disturbance in the stadium,” he said.

He said that it was expected that there would be a capacity crowd of 62,000 to 63,000 at the stadium.

“Keeping in view the safety and security of general football lovers, we took up the matter with the Derby committee and decided to cancel today’s match,” he said.

Some supporters of both clubs gathered in front of the stadium in the afternoon holding flags of the respective teams and shouting slogans like “We want justice”.

The police also played out two audio clips during the press conference, maintaining that these reflected plans by some people to create disturbances at the stadium.

The officer said that the police have information that there are plans by some organisations to hold protests in front of the stadium on Sunday following the cancellation of the Derby match.

He said that while the Bidhannagar police do not have any issue with peaceful protests, it is likely that unruly elements might mingle among peaceful protesters and create disturbance.

The officer said that five persons have been detained in this regard and the process of identifying others who may instigate violence were on.

He said that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS have been imposed in and around the stadium from 4 pm to midnight of Sunday to prevent any unruly situation.

Shillong Lajong FC held FC Goa to a 1-1 draw in the concluding Group F match of the 133rd Durand Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong to top the group and ensure a quarterfinal berth in the process. Needing just one point to qualify, Shillong Lajong secured it against a 10-man FC Goa to progress to the knock-out stage. Both the teams were locked on seven points each but Shillong Lajong topped the group with a better goal difference. Marcos Rudwere Silva scored first for Shillong Lajong before Devendra Murgaonkar levelled the issue for FC Goa, which was reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute when its custodian Hritik Tiwari was ejected with a straight red.

Shillong Lajong joined the other group winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Indian Army FT, NorthEast United FC in the quarterfinals. Punjab FC and Emami East Bengal also booked their places in the last-eight stage as the two best second placed sides (each having seven points and superior goal difference). FC Goa also had seven points but was edged out by East Bengal which had a goal difference of plus four compared to the former’s plus two. 

According to the fixtures tentatively released by the organisers, the first set of quarterfinals will take place on August 21 where East Bengal will meet Shillong Lajong in Shillong while NorthEast United FC will take on Indian Army FT at Kokrajhar. The remaining two quarterfinals will be played on August 23 where Mohun Bagan SG will meet Punjab FC at Jamshedpur while Bengaluru FC will take on Kerala Blasters FC at Kolkata. 

The result:

Group F (Shillong): Shillong Lajong FC 1 (Marcos Rudwere Silva 30) drew with FC Goa 1 (Devendra Murgaonkar 32)

Durand Cup derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal has been cancelled.© X (Twitter)

Former India captain Sunil Chhetri came in as a late substitute to nod home a corner and complete the scoring process for Bengaluru FC. File
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

Former ISL champion Bengaluru FC waltzed to its second consecutive win by downing the I-League side Inter Kashi FC 3-0 in a Group B league match of the 133rd Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Stadium here on Saturday. 

Spanish forward Edgar Mendez opened the scoring converting an early penalty before his compatriot Alberto Noguera doubled the lead late in the second session.

Former India captain Sunil Chhetri came in as a late substitute to nod home a corner and complete the scoring process for Bengaluru FC.

The Blues could have ended with a bigger scoreline but for Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas, who saved substitute forward Ryan William’s penalty attempt in the 84th minute. With this win, Bengaluru FC reached the top of the group standings with six points.

Odisha FC brightened up its performance in the second half to overwhelm BSF FT 5-0 in a Group E encounter played at the SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar.

In another development, Hyderabad FC pulled out of the event “due to unforeseen circumstances”. The Durand Cup Organising Committee heeded the request of the Government of Meghalaya to include the local side Rangdajied United FC in the former’s place in Group F, which is being played in Shillong.

The results

Group B (Kolkata): Bengaluru FC 3 (Edgar Mendez 17-pen, Alberto Noguera 77, Sunil Chhetri 82) bt Inter Kashi FC 0.

Group E (Kokrajhar): Odisha FC 5 (Rahul Mukhi 55, Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh 56, Moirangthem Givson Singh 58, 80, RoshanMukhi 78) bt BSF FT 0.   

Adrian Luna of Kerala Blasters FC. File

Adrian Luna, who missed a major part of the last ISL season with a knee injury, figures in the Kerala Blasters team for the Durand Cup in Kolkata.

Grouped with CISF Protectors FT, Punjab FC, and Mumbai City FC, Blasters will kick off their campaign against Mumbai City on Thursday.

Forward Jaushua Sotirio and midfielder Vibin Mohanan, who suffered minor knocks during the team’s recent pre-season training in Thailand, are in rehab while defender Prabir Das returned home due to personal reasons.

Goalkeeper Sachin Suresh, who had been undergoing rehab in Kochi, has rejoined the team in Kolkata. Defender Alexandre Coeff, the team’s new signing, is expected to join the side next week.

Blasters players will wear black armbands during their opening group fixture to express solidarity with those affected by the natural calamity in Wayanad.

The team

Goalkeepers: Sachin Suresh, Nora Fernandes, Som Kumar, Mohammed Arbaz.

Defenders: Milos Drincic, Sandeep Singh, Hormipam Ruivah, Pritam Kotal, Alexandre Coeff, Aiban Dohling, Muhammed Saheef, Naocha Singh.

Midfielders: Adrian Luna, Freddy Lallawmawma, Vibin Mohanan, Danish Farooq, Mohammed Azhar, Yoihenba Meitei, Sagolsem Bikash Singh, Saurav Mandal, Bryce Miranda, Rentlei Lalthanmawia.