Football

NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) and Shillong Lajong FC have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the Durand Cup 2024 after overcoming valiant efforts from Indian Army FT and East Bengal FC, respectively.In the first quarter-final at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, NEUFC's Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez scored in the second half to seal a 2-0 victory over Indian Army FT. The Highlanders dominated the early exchanges, but the Army men absorbed the pressure and threatened on set pieces. However, Albiach broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, finishing off a long ball from Samte. Fernandez doubled the lead in the 73rd minute with a spectacular 'scorpion kick' finish.In the second quarter-final at Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong Lajong FC stunned East Bengal FC 2-1. Marcos Rudwere gave the hosts an early lead, but Nandhakumar Sekar equalized for East Bengal in the 77th minute. However, Figo Syndai scored the winning goal in the dying moments, capitalizing on an opening created by East Bengal's aggressive push for a winner.NEUFC will now face Shillong Lajong FC in the semi-finals, while the other semi-final will feature Gokulam Kerala FC and Sudeva Delhi FC. The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in Asia, and this year's edition has witnessed some exciting matches and impressive performances.

Chennaiyin FC, eager to secure their first victory and maintain their playoff aspirations, will face Jamshedpur FC in a crucial Group D encounter of the Durand Cup 2024 at Jamshedpur's JRD Tata Sports Complex on Sunday.In their tournament opener, the Marina Machans suffered a narrow defeat to Indian Army FT, conceding a goal late in the first half. Despite their valiant efforts to equalize in the second period, Chennaiyin failed to find the equalizer, leaving them third in the group standings after the first round of matches."As a team, we attacked well in the last game, especially in the second half. We created chances, but we need to capitalize on them and score goals," said assistant coach Noel Wilson. "Until you score, your defense remains under pressure."A victory against Jamshedpur could propel Chennaiyin ahead of their ISL rivals, provided the scoreline and the result from the other game favor them. After three games, the group winners and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the quarter-finals."Both remaining games are crucial for us," Wilson emphasized. "We must win this game against Jamshedpur FC. We face a formidable opponent, but if we work hard as a team and convert our chances, we can turn things around. Winning the next game gives us a chance in the third game.""We have a chance to qualify, but we need to win games. We must work harder and aim for a positive result in the next match," Wilson added.The Durand Cup, currently in its 133rd edition, is Asia's oldest existing football club competition and the fifth oldest in the world.

The Durand Cup 2024, Asia's oldest football tournament, is set to kick off on July 27th, with defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and archrivals East Bengal FC drawn together in the same group. The tournament will feature 24 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, international teams, and the Armed Forces.This year, Jamshedpur and Shillong join Kokrajhar and Kolkata as host cities, with each hosting group stage fixtures. Kolkata, the main venue, will host three groups, while Jamshedpur, Shillong, and Kokrajhar will each host one group.The tournament will follow a round-robin league format with knockout stages, culminating in the final at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. In total, 43 matches will be played, and the top teams from each group, along with the two best second-placed teams, will advance to the knockout phase.Group A, hosted in Kolkata, features Mohun Bagan SG, East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT, and Downtown Heroes FC. Group B, also in Kolkata, includes Bengaluru FC, Inter Kashi FC, Indian Navy FT, and Mohammedan SC. Group C, the third Kolkata-based group, consists of Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, Punjab FC, and CISF Protectors FT.Group D, hosted in Jamshedpur, features Jamshedpur FC, Chennaiyin FC, Indian Army FT, and Bangladesh Army FT. Group E, in Kokrajhar, includes Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Bodoland FC, and BSF FT. Group F, hosted in Shillong, consists of FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Shillong Lajong FC, and Tribhuvan Army FC.International teams Tribhuvan Army FC from Nepal and Bangladesh Army Football Team will return to the tournament after participating in the previous edition. The tournament promises exciting matches and intense rivalries, with the top teams in India vying for the coveted Durand Cup trophy.