Football

Former Indian Super League (ISL) champions Bengaluru FC continued their impressive start to the 133rd Durand Cup, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over I-League side Inter Kashi FC in a Group B encounter at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata.Spanish forward Edgar Mendez opened the scoring for Bengaluru in the 17th minute, converting a penalty after Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas brought down Sivasakthi Narayanan inside the box. The Blues dominated possession throughout the first half, creating several chances but failing to extend their lead.After the break, Bengaluru continued to press for more goals. In the 77th minute, Alberto Noguera doubled their advantage with a well-taken finish from close range. Former India captain Sunil Chhetri, who came on as a late substitute, sealed the victory in the 82nd minute, heading home a corner from Roshan Naorem.Despite Bengaluru's dominance, Inter Kashi goalkeeper Shubham Dhas put in a commendable performance, making several saves to keep the scoreline respectable. However, he was unable to stop Ryan Williams' penalty attempt in the 84th minute, which was saved by the crossbar.With this win, Bengaluru FC moved to the top of the Group B standings with six points from two matches. Inter Kashi, on the other hand, remained winless after two games.In another Group E encounter played at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Odisha FC registered a resounding 5-0 victory over BSF FT. Rahul Mukhi opened the scoring for Odisha in the 55th minute, followed by goals from Ashangbam Aphaoba Singh (56'), Moirangthem Givson Singh (58', 80'), and Roshan Mukhi (78').Meanwhile, Hyderabad FC withdrew from the tournament due to unforeseen circumstances. The Durand Cup Organising Committee subsequently invited local side Rangdajied United FC to replace Hyderabad in Group F, which is being played in Shillong.

Kerala Blasters FC unleashed their attacking prowess, crushing Mumbai City FC 8-0 in a Group C league match of the 133rd Durand Cup football tournament at the Kishore Bharati Stadium. The Blasters' Moroccan forward Noah Sadaoui and Ghanaian striker Kwame Peprah led the goal-scoring spree, each netting a hat-trick.Sadaoui opened the scoring in the 31st minute, giving Kerala an early advantage. Peprah doubled the lead just seven minutes later, and the Blasters continued to dominate the match. Sadaoui struck again in the 50th minute, extending the lead to 3-0.Peprah scored his second goal in the 38th minute, followed by another in the 45th minute, completing his hat-trick before halftime. The Blasters' relentless attack continued in the second half, with Sadaoui completing his hat-trick in the 76th minute.Mumbai City FC, fielding its reserve team, struggled to contain the Blasters' offensive onslaught. Ishan Pandita, who came on as a late substitute for Peprah, added two quick goals in the 86th and 87th minutes, sealing the massive victory for Kerala.The result marked a resounding triumph for the Blasters, who showcased their attacking capabilities and defensive solidity. Mumbai City FC, on the other hand, will need to regroup and improve their performance in the remaining matches of the tournament.

Bengaluru FC kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Indian Navy FT in a Group B encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Díaz was the star of the show, scoring a brace in the second half to seal the win.The Blues took the lead in the 10th minute through Rahul Bheke, who headed home a cross from the left flank. Bengaluru doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when captain Sunil Chhetri converted a penalty after Indian Navy defender was sent off for a red card.After the break, Díaz came on as a substitute and made an immediate impact. He scored his first goal in the 79th minute, finishing off a cross from Udanta Singh. The Argentine striker then added his second in the 90th minute, tapping in from close range after a good run by Chhetri.In another Group B match, Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated TRAU FC 2-0. Trinidadian striker Willis Plaza scored both goals for the Kolkata-based club.In Group D, Indian Army FT pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory over former ISL champion Chennaiyin FC. Liton Shil scored the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute.The win puts Indian Army FT level on points with host Jamshedpur FC at the top of the Group D standings.

Punjab FC kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over CISF Protectors in a Group C match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Tuesday. The Punjab-based club controlled the game from the start and took the lead through their captain, Luka Majcen, in the 29th minute. The Slovenian forward doubled the advantage in the 58th minute with another impressive finish. Vinit Rai sealed the win for Punjab FC by converting a penalty in the 76th minute.In another Group C match, Sudeva Delhi FC played out a goalless draw with Army Green. Both teams had chances to win the game, but neither could find the back of the net.Meanwhile, in Group E, NorthEast United FC secured a 2-0 victory over local side Bodoland FC at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar. Jithin M.S. opened the scoring for NorthEast United in the 49th minute, and Ankith Padmanabhan added a second in the 90th minute to seal the win.In other Group E action, TRAU FC defeated Kenkre FC 2-1. Bidyashagar Singh gave TRAU FC the lead in the 10th minute, but Kenkre FC equalized through Aniket Jadhav in the 25th minute. TRAU FC regained the lead in the 55th minute through Salam Ranjan Singh, and they held on to secure the victory.

Jose Molina, the former ATK champion coach, has taken charge of the Indian Super League shield winner Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Molina emphasized the importance of consistency and delivering top-notch performances in every match, regardless of the tournament. He believes that every game should be treated as the most crucial fixture on the calendar.Molina's return to Kolkata after an eight-season absence marks a significant moment for Mohun Bagan. He previously led ATK to the ISL title in 2016. After serving as the sporting director of the Royal Spanish Football Federation for four years, Molina is eager to maintain Mohun Bagan's status as a top-tier football club in India.Molina's first assignment with Mohun Bagan will be the Durand Cup match against Indian Air Force on August 8. The team is determined to continue its winning streak and maintain its dominance in Indian football.

East Bengal FC, the Kolkata-based football giants, kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 3-1 victory over the Indian Air Force (IAF) football team at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday.Despite IAF drawing first blood through Somananda Singh's strike in the opening quarter, East Bengal fought back with determination. Young forward David Hmar equalized just before the break, restoring parity for the Red and Gold Brigade.With head coach Carles Cuadrat fielding a full-strength squad, East Bengal wasted no time in taking the lead. In the 61st minute, Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, the ISL's top scorer last season, nodded home a header to put East Bengal ahead.Captain Saul Crespo sealed the deal for East Bengal in the 68th minute with a well-taken shot. The victory marked a positive start for the Kolkata giants, who are aiming to lift the Durand Cup trophy for the first time since 2002.East Bengal's dominance was evident throughout the match. They controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. The IAF team, despite their early lead, struggled to keep up with the pace and intensity of the Red and Gold Brigade.The victory will boost East Bengal's confidence as they prepare for their upcoming matches in the Durand Cup. The tournament, one of the oldest and most prestigious football competitions in Asia, features some of the top clubs in India.East Bengal will be hoping to continue their winning ways and make a strong run in the tournament. With a talented squad and a determined coach, they have the potential to challenge for the title.

Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will lead the charge as 24 teams prepare for the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup, the inaugural competition of Indian football's new season. Mohun Bagan SG, also the holders of the Indian Super League shield title, will face Srinagar-based club Downtown Heroes FC, which plays in I-League Division 2, in the opening Group A league match at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.The tournament format features 24 teams divided into six groups of four teams each. The groups include teams from the ISL, I-League, and the Services teams of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Kolkata will host the matches of Groups A, B, and C, while Jamshedpur will host Group D matches. Kokrajhar and Shillong will host the Group E and F league matches respectively.The 36-match group league stage will conclude with the Kolkata derby featuring two of the oldest teams in the continent - Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC - on August 18. The top team from each group and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals (knock-out stage). The quarterfinals are scheduled to start on August 21 and will be held in Jamshedpur, Kokrajhar, and Kolkata, which will host two matches. Kolkata will host both the semifinals and the final, which will be held on August 31.

The 133rd Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament, is set to kick off the 2024-25 season on July 27 in Kolkata. Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will face Downtown Heroes FC in the opening match.The tournament will feature 24 teams competing in a round-robin league format, with six group winners and two best second-placed teams advancing to the knockout round. Group A includes two record-holding title winners: Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC.Mohun Bagan SG, the reigning champions, have bolstered their squad with notable foreign signings, including Jamie Maclaren, Greg Stewart, Alberto Rodriguez, and Tom Aldred. They will aim to retain their title and continue their trophy-winning spree.East Bengal FC, the other Kolkata giant, has also built a formidable squad, acquiring the services of last season's standout performers, including Dimitrios Diamantakos, Madih Talal, and Jeakson Singh. They will aim to close the gap and secure their 17th Durand Cup win, leveling the tally with their arch-rivals.Group A also includes Downtown Heroes FC, a relatively new club founded in 2020, and Indian Air Force FT, representing the armed forces from India. Their participation could add an element of surprise to the group stage.The two finalists from the 2023 Durand Cup, Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC, are once again pitted in the same group for the third consecutive time. The result of their high-stakes encounter could determine which Kolkata-based team advances to the knockout rounds.The Durand Cup is a prestigious tournament that has been won by some of India's most famous clubs, including Mohun Bagan SG, East Bengal FC, and Bengaluru FC. It is a major event in the Indian football calendar and provides a platform for young players to showcase their talent.

The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest and the world's fifth oldest football tournament, is set to kick off on July 27th in Kolkata. The tournament will feature 24 teams divided into six groups, with matches taking place in four cities: Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Shillong, and Jamshedpur.The inaugural match will see reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant face off against Downtown Heroes FC of Kashmir. The much-anticipated Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will take place on August 18th, serving as the final group game.Group A, B, and C matches will be played in Kolkata, while Jamshedpur will host Group D matches. Jamshedpur FC will face Bangladesh Army Football Team in the first match in Jamshedpur.Group E games will commence in Kokrajhar on July 30th, with local side Bodoland FC taking on ISL side NorthEast United FC. Shillong, another first-time host, will see Shillong Lajong FC take on Nepal's Tribhuvan Army Football Team in the opening fixture of Group F.The tournament will feature a total of 43 matches, with the six group toppers and two best second-placed teams qualifying for the knockouts. The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kishore Bharati Krirangan, JRD Tata Sports Complex, SAI Stadium, and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the matches.The Durand Cup has a rich history, having been first played in 1888. It is a prestigious tournament that has seen some of the biggest names in Indian football participate over the years. The tournament is expected to attract a large number of fans and generate significant excitement in the Indian football community.