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The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
East Bengal steamrollers debutant South United
Emami East Bengal asserted its superiority with a convincing 5-0 win over debutant South United FC in the opening Group-A match of the 134th edition of the Durand Cup football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday. Defender Lalchungnunga opened the scoring early in the first half before Saul Crespo netted a penalty to make it 2-0. Bipin Singh made a fine debut for East Bengal as he found the net within minutes after his introduction late in the second half. Dimitrios Diamantakos, also coming in as a substitute, scored from a free-kick to enhance East Bengal's tally before Naorem Mahesh Singh provided the finishing touch with a nice long-ranger in the penultimate minute of the match. Outplayed It was a harrowing debut for South United as the Bengaluru-based team was unable to find its footing against the might of the ISL side East Bengal, which dominated the action with over 70% ball possession. South United, whose best show so far has been playing in the I-League 2, had to rely on its local league recruits against a much-higher budget opponent which also fielded three foreigners. The result: Group-A: Emami East Bengal 5 (Lalchungnunga 12, Crespo 37-pen, Bipin Singh 79, Diamantakos 86, Mahesh Singh 89) bt South United FC 0.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Durand Cup: Home favourites hope for strong start to wrest early advantage
CHENNAI: The first week of 134th IndianOil Durand Cup promises to be an exciting one with 10 matches slotted across five host cities Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Kokrajhar and Imphal from July 23. This was shared by the organising committee of Saturday. Top Indian Super League (ISL) teams Emami East Bengal FC (16-time former winners) and Jamshedpur FC (former ISL League Winners Shield winners) kick-off one after another on the first two match days, while at least three local derbies, featuring other top local contenders like Mohammedan Sporting (former champions), Shillong Lajong FC and Neroca FC (former finalists), are also likely to garner significant local interest. With teams like ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, defending champions NorthEast United FC and ISL side Punjab FC beginning in week two, early three points will give a fillip to the early starters looking to seal knockout berths. The openers The two games down in the plains before moving up to the beautiful hills of the North East, features giants East Bengal against Bengaluru League top division side South United FC in a tricky Group A opener, also the first game of the tournament, at home at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. That will be followed the next day by Jamshedpur taking on Nepal's Tribhuvan Army at their home at the JDR Tata Sports Complex in the Steel City. The Red Miners also play their second Group C game in week one, against the Malaysian Army outfit this time and nothing short of two wins will satisfy their growing fan base. Likewise, now with a new line-up of foreign recruits in their camp, fans of the Red & Gold brigade will demand nothing less than a confident win in their opener. The three derbies The first derby of the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup, this year features a different kind of Kolkata derby, with the century-old Mohammedan Sporting taking on Calcutta Premier Division League rivals Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC), the I-League 2 champions. Mohammedan are looking for their first win over the newly formed and fast rising outfit, with DHFC winning one of the two matches played between them so far. The second will see the ever-popular Shillong Lajong FC, take on another Shillong side Rangdaijed United, with both teams on the path to regain lost glory. The Shillong derby will be played at the JLN stadium as the opening game of Group E. The final derby of week one will witness the famous Imphal derby between old rivals Neroca FC and TRAU FC as the Durand Cup makes a return to the capital of Manipur. It will sure be a treat to see the picturesque Khuman Lampak packed with football lovers once again. Matches live: Sony Ten2 and SonyLIV Source: Organisers
News18
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Invincible': Diamond Harbour Clinch I-League 2 Title Unbeaten With Draw Against Bengaluru United
Published By : IANS DHFC earned the title of the Invincibles with a 0-0 draw against Bengaluru United at the Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium on Saturday. Having already secured the I-League 2 2024-25 season title, Diamond Harbour etched their name in history as they ended the season unbeaten, earning the title of Invincibles. DHFC earned the title of the Invincibles with a 0-0 draw against Bengaluru United at the Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium on Saturday. The West Bengal team have won 11 and drawn five of their 16 games this season and will now hope to replicate their performance in the I-League from the 2025-26 season, having clinched promotion. However, despite the historic feat, the club will have to hold off on the celebrations. DHFC have postponed their victory march that was scheduled for Sunday. The celebratory procession was to mark the club's historic I-League 2 title win and their promotion to the I-League. However, in light of the tragic terrorist attack that claimed at least 26 lives and left several injured in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, DHFC's Chief Patron, Abhishek Banerjee, announced the event's indefinite postponement as a mark of respect for the victims. DHFC etched its name in history books and sealed the championship with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Chanmari FC at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl. A late 85th-minute goal by Rabi Mandi, courtesy of a beautiful swirling delivery from the left wing, sealed the title for the West Bengal-based outfit. Diamond Harbour FC won the I-League 3 title earlier to qualify for I-League 2 and will be hoping to make the jump up to India's first division, the Indian Super League, in the coming seasons. First Published: April 26, 2025, 23:05 IST
