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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Newbies Diamond Harbour FC shock East Bengal, in Durand final
Kolkata: Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC), remember the name. At a time when clubs in the Indian Super League (ISL) are saying they cannot continue, DHFC have shown that there is life beyond the top tier. A diamond that can be the third force from Bengal. Diamond Harbour FC and East Bengal in action in the Durand cup semi-final. (Durand Cup) 'We can be better but we cannot do more,' said coach Kibu Vicuna one day prior to the semi-final against East Bengal in the 134th Durand Cup. Even the Spaniard would have been surprised at how his team lived up his mantra. Now, defending champions NorthEast United, 1-0 winners against Shillong Lajong in Tuesday's semi-final, stand between them and a title in Asia's oldest, and the world's third oldest, tournament. Wednesday's 2-1 win against all odds ensured that. Forget being overawed in their first Durand Cup, forget being frightened by the reputation of their opponents who had convincingly beaten ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-final, or the fact that they had only two foreigners less than half of East Bengal. Forget even the fact that their supporters would, by an optimistic estimate, be in the hundreds among the 18,960 that fetched up with loud hailers on a midweek evening at Salt Lake stadium. DHFC absorbed the shock of letting in Anwar Ali's equaliser one minute after Mikel Kortazar's magnificent back-volley had them ahead, scored again from a melee through Jobby Justin and then held on as East Bengal threw the kitchen sink, nay the whole kitchen, at them. Miguel Ferreira thudded the framework, Mohamad Bashim dragged his shot wide, Dimitrios Diamantikos failed to keep a free header on target once in each half as did Kevin Sibille just before half-time. Kortazar produced a goalline save in first half stoppage time. And when all was lost, there was Koottappuna Mirshad about whom we will come to in a bit. Justin, whose career had grown at East Bengal, is getting a second wind at the club that was founded on April 15, 2022, also the Bengali New Year's Day. Vicuna's 4-3-3 formation hinged on the tracking back of his wide forwards and Justin and Halicharan Narzary did just that. That East Bengal were forced into taking off Edmund Lalrindika and Lalchungnunga, who was on a booking, add solidity in midfield by introducing Jeakson Singh and getting Bashim in hours after he had flown back from USA after his father's death, was proof of how effective DHFC were, especially in transitions. By half-time, Samuel Lalmuanpuia could have had a goal and an assist but his 23rd minute shot banged into the horizontal and his pass over Lalchungnunga was skied by Justin three minutes later. And now about Mirshad, also a former East Bengal player. The goalie was surprised by the vicious curl and power of Ali's shot from 40 yards but had saved one from the central defender in the 21st minute. He produced a double save in the move that had the Spaniard Kortazar, who put in a superb shift, clearing from the line. He also tipped over Sibille's header and a powerful drive from Singh. That was in the 56th minute. Soon after, Vicuna made a triple change and the substitute struggled to get into the rhythm of the match. It led to East Bengal asserting themselves but against the run of play, one of the substitutes, Girik Khosla won a free-kick. From distance, Paul Ramfangzuava swung the shot which Ali headed but only as far as Kortazar, the 26-year-old central defender from Ondarroa. As Prabhsukhan Gill went towards him, Kortazar back-volleyed into the bottom corner in the 66th minute. Barely had DHFC had done celebrating, that Ali's screamer levelled the issue in the 67th. DHFC organised themselves into a low block and kept repelling East Bengal. But when the opportunity arose, they would break into a counter-attack as Paul did, taking on a Justin pass and testing Gill. From the corner-kick, Luka Macjen kept the ball alive and Justin managed to stab home. He did not celebrate. Macjen thought he had settled it with another counter-attack, set going by Justin but Wahengbam Angousana, another substitute, was off-side. No problem. DHFC showed they had the steel to hold on. 'We are here to stay,' Vicuna had said on Tuesday. Tired of being asked about East Bengal at the per-match press conference, he had also said: 'We too are a good team.' A little over 24 hours later, the 53-year-old Spanish coach, who had won Mohun Bagan their last I-League in 2019-20, showed how right he was. In five years in India, he has yet to lose against East Bengal.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Diamond Harbour stun East Bengal 2-1 to set up Durand Cup final against North East United
Second-half strikes from Mikel Idiakez and Joby Justin fired debutants Diamond Harbour FC to a 2-1 win over East Bengal on Wednesday, sealing a spot in the 134th Durand Cup final against NorthEast United FC. Diamond Harbour FC players celebrate their victory against East Bengal FC during Durand Cup 2025 semifinal match.(PTI) Anwar Ali had drawn parity for the Red & Golds moments after Idiakez's spectacular back-volley had given the Diamonds the lead. The Diamonds had the better of exchanges in the first-half and nearing 20 minutes, Joby had a first shot at goal from close but was easily thwarted by Prabhsukan Gill in the East Bengal goal. Anwar then also had his first strike at goal in the 22nd minute, but just missed. East Bengal did finish the half the stronger of the two, with a Mahesh cross getting Diamantakos to head one which went out and then again the Manipuri's shot hitting the bar in the second minute of extended time. In the second half, the Red & Golds kept pressing with Bipin hitting over from close, forcing Vicuna into bringing in both fresh and experienced legs in Girik Khosla, Melroy Assisi and Angousana in place of Narzary, Sairuatkima and Samuel respectively. Against the run of play, Diamond's Idiakez scored a wonderful goal. Paul took the free-kick from the left, only for Anwar to try and clear with his head. The ball looped across the goal and Idiakez, with his back towards the goal, executed a back-volley to perfection, giving the tournament debutants the lead for the first time in the match. Anwar however, made amends almost instantly, collecting the ball inside his half and then meandering ahead on his own, before firing a missile from 40-yards out which Mirshad could only palm towards his goal. A vicious last minute curve and power in the shot, gave the Diamond keeper no chance. Moroccan Basim Rashid was also brought on by Vicuna in place of Saul Crespo, in an effort to break the deadlock, but the Diamonds it was who would do it instead, going ahead again off an Angousana corner, a melee inside the box saw Joby tap in from close.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
A gem of a game by Diamond Harbour
Diamond Harbour FC sprung the biggest surprise of the Durand Cup as the debutant reached the final of the 134th edition of the tournament by beating ISL giant Emami East Bengal 2-1 in the second semifinal at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday. The I-League Division 2 champion Diamond Harbour, which came into the match after beating Jamshedpur FC in the quarterfinal, continued with the same form and struck two goals in the second half to eliminate 16-time champion East Bengal. Diamond Harbour will take on holder NorthEast United FC in the final at the same venue on Saturday. Spanish defender Mikel Kortazar drew first blood for Diamond Harbour with a spectacular overhead volley in the 66th minute, but EBFC cancelled the lead a minute later through defender Anwar Ali. Diamond Harbour then silenced a gathering of around 25,000 partisan EBFC fans in the 83rd minute when Jobby Justin tapped home the winner after goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill spilt a catch. Despite getting an added time of nine minutes, EBFC failed to find the equaliser as a determined Diamond Harbour blocked its goalmouth successfully. The result (semifinal): Diamond Harbour FC 2 (Mikel Kortazar 66, Jobby Justin 83) bt Emami East Bengal 1 (Anwar Ali 67).
News18
4 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup 2025: Diamond Harbour Make History! Beat East Bengal 2-1 To Book Spot In Final
Last Updated: Diamond Harbour FC beat East Bengal 2-1 in the Durand Cup semi-final. Goals from Mikel Idiakez and Joby Justin secured the win and will face NorthEast United FC in the final. Debutants Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC), created history at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on Wednesday, defeating East Bengal 2-1 in the second semi-final of the 134th Durand Cup, courtesy two second-half strikes from Spanish defender Mikel Idiakez and Kerala forward Joby Justin respectively. Anwar Ali had drawn parity for the Red & Golds moments after Idiakez's spectacular back-volley had given the Diamonds the lead. Diamond Harbour will take on defending champions NorthEast United FC in the grand finale on Saturday (Aug 23, 2025). How Diamond Harbour Beat East Bengal? Celebrated DHFC coach Kibu Vicuna began with a three-man defence line and four attackers while Carlos Bruzon of East Bengal left only Greek forward Dimitrios Diamantakos upfront, in a move that seemed to have paid the former dividends. The Diamonds had the better of exchanges in the first-half and nearing 20 minutes, Joby Justin had a first shot at goal from close but was easily thwarted by Prabhsukan Gill in the East Bengal goal. Anwar then also had his first strike at goal in the 22nd minute, but just missed. Two minutes later, in another move began by Joby from just outside the Diamond box, Halicharan Narzary found Luka Majcen in space ahead of him, who in turn crossed ahead for Joby, who had made his way into the East Bengal box. His cut back saw Samuel unleash a powerful strike which thundered the underside of the bar before coming back into play. A couple of minutes later, Samuel again found Joby inside the Red & Gold box in space but the Kerala forward literally blew away the opportunity. East Bengal did finish the half the stronger of the two, with a Mahesh cross getting Diamantakos to head one which went out and then again the Manipuri's shot hitting the bar in the 2nd minute of extended time. Bruzon brought in Provat Lakra in place of Lalchungnunga and Jeakson Singh in place of Edmund at the break. That made Bipin and Mahesh also switch flanks. It was Mahesh behind the first big chance of the half in-fact, displaying deft skills to cut in from the left and put Diamantakos in lots of space inside the Diamond box. With only the keeper to beat from an angle, the Greek, hit the side-netting. The East Bengal number nine then missed two more in the space of three minutes, the last one off a Miguel corner, which saw Anwar deflect a header onto his aerial path and with again just the keeper and an open goal in front of him, Diamantakos misdirected his header from close. The Red & Golds kept pressing with Bipin hitting over from close, forcing Vicuna into bringing in both fresh and experienced legs in Girik Khosla, Melroy Assisi and Angousana in place of Narzary, Sairuatkima and Samuel respectively. Melroy was booked on arrival for a foul on Diamantakos and then Jeakson, another substitute, got into the act with a booming drive from distance in the 64th minute, to bring about a good save from man of the match Mirshad. Then against the run of play, Diamond's Idiakez scored a wonder goal. Paul took the free-kick from the left, only for Anwar to try and clear with his head. The ball looped across the goal and Idiakez, with his back towards the goal, executed a back-volley to perfection, giving the tournament debutants the lead for the first time in the match. Anwar however, made amends almost instantly, collecting the ball inside his half and then meandering ahead on his own, before firing a missile from 40-yards out which Mirshad could only palm towards his goal. A vicious last minute curve and power in the shot, gave the Diamond keeper no chance. Moroccan Basim Rashid was also brought on by Vicuna in place of Saul Crespo, in an effort to break the deadlock, but the Diamonds it was who would do it instead, going ahead again when off an Angousana corner, a melee inside the box saw Joby tap in from close. As East Bengal continued to press they got three corners in three minutes and Bruzon also brought in Vishnu and David Hmar, as the final cards in his pack in place of Bipin and Lakra. Vicuna also subbed one of his substitutes Angousana, to solidify his backline with Bikramjit Singh in the end stages. view comments Location : Kolkata, India, India First Published: August 20, 2025, 21:28 IST News sports Durand Cup 2025: Diamond Harbour Make History! Beat East Bengal 2-1 To Book Spot In Final Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Durand Cup 2025 LIVE SCORE, Diamond Harbour FC vs East Bengal FC semi-final: Action begins at 7 PM
Diamond Harbour FC, led by the experienced Kibu Vicuna, have been the surprise package of the tournament. With knockout wins over Mohammedan Sporting and Jamshedpur FC, they've shown grit and flair. The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan as East Bengal FC take on debutants Diamond Harbour FC in the second semi-final of the 134th Durand Cup today. It's a clash of legacy versus new blood, with East Bengal eyeing a return to glory and Diamond Harbour scripting a dream run in their maiden campaign. Fresh from their thrilling Kolkata derby victory over Mohun Bagan, East Bengal enter the contest full of momentum. Under Oscar Bruzon's guidance, the Red and Golds have displayed tactical maturity, sharpness in attack, and a hunger to lift silverware. Dimitrios Diamantakos, the derby hero, is expected to lead the line again, with creative forces like Naorem Mahesh Singh and Miguel Figueira pulling the strings in midfield. Diamond Harbour FC, led by the experienced Kibu Vicuna, have been the surprise package of the tournament. With knockout wins over Mohammedan Sporting and Jamshedpur FC, they've shown grit and flair. Strikers Luka Majcen and Sairuatkima have stepped up in big moments, while goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya brings vital leadership at the back. Diamond Harbour FC vs East Bengal FC Durand Cup 2025 Starting 11: Diamond Harbour FC starting 11 (probable): Susnata Malik (GK), Ajith Kumar, Mikel Kortazar, Naresh Singh, Melroy Assisi, Clayton, Lalliansanga, Paul Ramfangzauva, Girik Khosla, Luka Majcen, Joby Justin Diamond Harbour FC vs East Bengal FC Durand Cup 2025 semi-final Live Telecast: The live telecast of the Durand Cup 2025 semi-final match between Diamond Harbour FC and East Bengal FC will be available on the Sony Sports Network in India. Diamond Harbour FC vs East Bengal FC Durand Cup 2025 semi-final Live streaming: The Durand Cup 2025 semi-final match between Diamond Harbour FC and East Bengal FC will be available on the SonyLIV website and app in India. 6:04 PM Diamond Harbour FC vs East Bengal FC LIVE SCORE UPDATES: Will home support do it for East Bengal? The Salt Lake Stadium will be packed for the semis tie and East Bengal will obviously get the majority of support from the home crowd. Those cheers might just push the sde to victory on the night.
