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News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup 2025: East Bengal Edge Past Namdhari To Move Closer To Knockouts
Last Updated: East Bengal FC beat Namdhari FC 1-0 in the Durand Cup with Hamid Ahadad's debut goal. East Bengal leads Group A with six points, dominating possession despite Namdhari's defense. East Bengal FC took a significant step towards qualifying for the knockout stages of the 134th Durand Cup with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over a determined Namdhari FC in a Group A clash at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. Making his debut for the Red and Golds, Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute, marking a memorable first appearance. The win was East Bengal's second in as many matches, taking them to the top of Group A with six points and a healthy goal difference of +6. Head coach Oscar Bruzon rang in four changes from their opening fixture, handing starts to goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos, and winger Bipin Singh. Namdhari FC, still reeling from suspensions, made two forced changes. Skipper Akashdeep Singh returned to bolster the defence, while Manish Chaudhary was included in the attack in place of the suspended Manbir Singh. From the outset, East Bengal dominated possession and pinned Namdhari deep inside their half. However, goalkeeper Niraj Kumar produced a sensational performance to keep the favourites at bay. In the ninth minute, he rushed off his line to deny Diamantakos, and minutes later cut off a dangerous low cross from Bipin Singh to thwart a clear chance. Midfielder Mohammed Rashid tested him with a fierce shot in the 17th minute, before Miguel Figueira rattled the post twice—once from distance and again with a header. In the 39th minute, Niraj denied Saul Crespo from close range before watching Miguel hit the crossbar yet again with a thunderous header. Despite wave after wave of East Bengal attacks, Namdhari's deep defensive setup—anchored by their keeper's brilliance—kept the game goalless at halftime. Substitute Ahadad Breaks the Deadlock East Bengal resumed the second half in similar fashion, searching relentlessly for the breakthrough. After another saved effort from Diamantakos and a rare Namdhari chance that Dharmpreet Singh fired wide, Bruzon made a tactical switch—bringing on Hamid Ahadad in the 61st minute. The Moroccan wasted no time making his mark. In the 68th minute, Miguel Figueira swung in a corner which Niraj misjudged, allowing Ahadad to head in unchallenged at the far post. East Bengal continued to press for a second goal, but Namdhari remained compact, avoiding further damage. With the win, East Bengal moved to six points from two matches and remain firmly in control of their knockout destiny. Namdhari, who have also registered two wins in three games, remain in contention with six points and a goal difference of +3. They can still progress as one of the two best second-placed teams. (with PTI inputs) About the Author Siddarth Sriram First Published: August 06, 2025, 23:35 IST
NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Durand Cup: Debut Goal From Hamid Ahadad Seals Crucial Win For East Bengal
East Bengal FC moved a step closer to securing a knockout berth at the 134th Durand Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over a resilient Namdhari FC in a tightly contested Group A match on Wednesday. Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad, making his debut for the Red and Gold brigade, came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, handing East Bengal their second consecutive win of the tournament. Head coach Oscar Bruzon made four changes to his lineup from their previous match, handing starts to goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, and Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos and Bipin Singh up front. Namdhari's Harpreet Singh, meanwhile, made two enforced changes, bringing in skipper Akashdeep Singh in defence and Manish Chaudhary in attack, as suspended defender Manbir Singh missed out. The match kicked off with East Bengal taking immediate control, camping in the Namdhari half and creating chance after chance, only to be denied repeatedly by an inspired performance from goalkeeper Niraj Kumar. In the ninth minute, Niraj was quick off his line to deny Diamantakos, and minutes later, intercepted a dangerous ball from Bipin Singh meant for Saul Crespo. The barrage continued, with Mohammed Rashid's powerful 17th-minute strike forcing another save, before Miguel Figueira struck the post twice in quick succession, once with a long-range effort and once with a header. A Crespo attempt from a Mahesh freekick in the 39th was again stopped by Niraj on reflex, before Miguel hit the crossbar a third time with a bullet header in the 42nd minute. Despite relentless pressure, Namdhari's deep defensive block held firm and the score remained 0-0 at half time, thanks in large part to Niraj Kumar's heroics and a bit of good fortune. East Bengal resumed the second half in similar fashion, dominating possession and looking for the breakthrough. Diamantakos had a weak shot saved in the 52nd minute before Namdhari's Dharmpreet Singh fired wide in their only real chance in the opening exchanges of the second half. Sensing the need for a spark, Bruzon brought on Hamid Ahadad for Diamantakos in the 61st minute. The Moroccan made an instant impact just seven minutes later, when Miguel Figueira's corner found him unmarked at the far post. Niraj misjudged the flight of the ball, and Ahadad nodded home with ease to break the deadlock and open his account for the club. The win saw East Bengal top Group A with six points and goal difference of 6 from two matches, while Namdhari remain in contention with two wins from three (six points and GD of 3), as two best second place teams in the group stage will make it to the quarterfinals. ITBP hold Punjab FC to a goal-less draw In the day's other match, in Assam's Kokrajhar, ITBP held Punjab FC to a goal-less draw in a Group D contest at the SAI Stadium. Punjab FC were wasteful in front of goal, failing to convert their chances as ITBP showcased resilient defending to secure a hard earned point. Both teams have four points from two matches and will now face Bodoland FC in their remaining group stage matches.
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup: Debut goal from Hamid Ahadad seals crucial win for East Bengal
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 6 (ANI): East Bengal FC moved a step closer to securing a knockout berth at the 134th Durand Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over a resilient Namdhari FC in a tightly contested Group A encounter, here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad, making his debut for the Red and Gold Brigade, came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute, handing East Bengal their second consecutive win of the tournament, as per a press release. East Bengal Head Coach Oscar Bruzon made four changes to his lineup from their previous match, handing starts to goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, and Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos and Bipin Singh up front. Namdhari's Harpreet Singh, meanwhile, made two enforced changes, bringing in skipper Akashdeep Singh in defence and Manish Chaudhary in attack, as suspended defender Manbir Singh missed match kicked off with East Bengal taking immediate control, camping in the Namdhari half and creating chance after chance, only to be denied repeatedly by an inspired performance from Namdhari goalkeeper Niraj Kumar. In the 9th minute, Niraj was quick off his line to deny Diamantakos, and minutes later, intercepted a dangerous ball from Bipin Singh meant for Saul barrage continued, with Mohammed Rashid's powerful 17th-minute strike forcing another save, before Miguel Figueira struck the post twice in quick succession, once with a long-range effort and once with a header, as Namdhari's goal led a charmed life.A Crespo attempt from a Mahesh freekick in the 39th was again stopped by Niraj on reflex, before Miguel hit the crossbar a third time with a bullet header in the 42nd minute. Despite relentless pressure, Namdhari's deep defensive block held firm, and the score remained 0-0 at halftime, thanks in large part to Niraj Kumar's heroics and a bit of good Bengal resumed the second half in a similar fashion, dominating possession and looking for the breakthrough. Diamantakos had a weak shot saved in the 52nd minute before Namdhari's Dharmpreet Singh fired wide in their only real chance in the opening exchanges of the second the need for a spark, Bruzon brought on Hamid Ahadad for Diamantakos in the 61st minute. The Moroccan made an instant impact just seven minutes later, when Miguel Figueira's corner found him unmarked at the far post. Niraj misjudged the flight of the ball, and Ahadad nodded home with ease to break the deadlock and open his account for the Bengal continued to search for a second goal to kill the game. In the 87th minute, Chungnunga shot straight at the keeper, and in stoppage time, both Ahadad and Anwar Ali saw their efforts from close range blocked in a crowded had a glimmer of hope late in the 84th minute when Kamal's free kick nearly found Dasilva, but East Bengal's keeper Gill punched it away just in time, and the linesman flagged for Namdhari's spirited defensive effort and rare counterattacks, they couldn't break through East Bengal's backline led by Anwar Ali and Martand Raina, and failed to register a single shot. As the final whistle blew, East Bengal's clinical edge and tactical discipline sealed a well-earned three win sees East Bengal top Group A with six points and goal difference of +6 from two matches, while Namdhari remain in contention with two wins from three (six points and GD of +3), as two best second place teams in the group stage will make it to the quarterfinals. The Torch Bearers will face Indian Air Force FT in their final group game on August 10, 2025. (ANI)
News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Debut goal from Hamid Ahadad seals crucial win for East Bengal
Kolkata, Aug 6 (PTI) East Bengal FC moved a step closer to securing a knockout berth at the 134th Durand Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over a resilient Namdhari FC in a tightly contested Group A match here on Wednesday. Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad, making his debut for the Red and Gold brigade, came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, handing East Bengal their second consecutive win of the tournament. East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon made four changes to his lineup from their previous match, handing starts to goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, and Greek striker Dimitrios Diamantakos and Bipin Singh up front. Namdhari's Harpreet Singh, meanwhile, made two enforced changes, bringing in skipper Akashdeep Singh in defence and Manish Chaudhary in attack, as suspended defender Manbir Singh missed out. The match kicked off with East Bengal taking immediate control, camping in the Namdhari half and creating chance after chance, only to be denied repeatedly by an inspired performance from goalkeeper Niraj Kumar. In the ninth minute, Niraj was quick off his line to deny Diamantakos, and minutes later, intercepted a dangerous ball from Bipin Singh meant for Saul Crespo. The barrage continued, with Mohammed Rashid's powerful 17th-minute strike forcing another save, before Miguel Figueira struck the post twice in quick succession, once with a long-range effort and once with a header. A Crespo attempt from a Mahesh freekick in the 39th was again stopped by Niraj on reflex, before Miguel hit the crossbar a third time with a bullet header in the 42nd minute. Despite relentless pressure, Namdhari's deep defensive block held firm and the score remained 0-0 at half time, thanks in large part to Niraj Kumar's heroics and a bit of good fortune. East Bengal resumed the second half in similar fashion, dominating possession and looking for the breakthrough. Diamantakos had a weak shot saved in the 52nd minute before Namdhari's Dharmpreet Singh fired wide in their only real chance in the opening exchanges of the second half. Sensing the need for a spark, Bruzon brought on Hamid Ahadad for Diamantakos in the 61st minute. The Moroccan made an instant impact just seven minutes later, when Miguel Figueira's corner found him unmarked at the far post. Niraj misjudged the flight of the ball, and Ahadad nodded home with ease to break the deadlock and open his account for the club. The win saw East Bengal top Group A with six points and goal difference of +6 from two matches, while Namdhari remain in contention with two wins from three (six points and GD of +3), as two best second place teams in the group stage will make it to the quarterfinals. ITBP hold Punjab FC to a goal-less draw ========================= In the day's other match, in Assam's Kokrajhar, ITBP held Punjab FC to a goal-less draw in a Group D contest at the SAI Stadium. Punjab FC were wasteful in front of goal, failing to convert their chances as ITBP showcased resilient defending to secure a hard earned point. Both teams have four points from two matches and will now face Bodoland FC in their remaining group stage matches. PTI AH PDS AH PDS PDS view comments First Published: News agency-feeds Debut goal from Hamid Ahadad seals crucial win for East Bengal 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.
New Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Durand Cup kicks off amid uncertainty in Indian football
KOLKATA: The 134th edition of Durand Cup kicks off here Wednesday with East Bengal facing South United FC amid a cloud of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming top-tier domestic football season. The pre-season action will begin against the backdrop of a stalemate between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), which governs the operations and commercial structure of the top-tier Indian Super League. The MRA expires on December 8, and with no breakthrough yet, the very future of India's top-tier league remains in limbo ahead of its scheduled September start. In the midst of this impasse, the Durand Cup has retained its significance as the traditional curtain-raiser for Indian football. The competition continues to draw a full roster of 24 teams despite only six ISL clubs confirming participation this year. East Bengal's big rebuild The spotlight on Wednesday will be firmly on East Bengal, who have been among the busiest clubs in the transfer market. Determined to turn around their fortunes after a forgettable 2024-25 campaign, where they finished ninth in the ISL, made an early Super Cup exit, and bowed out of the AFC Challenge League in the quarterfinals, the Kolkata giants have rung in major changes under Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon. Key signings include Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, Argentine defender Kevin Sibille, and Palestinian international Mohammed Rashid. They join full-back Jay Gupta, who completed a multi-year move from FC Goa after a successful stint with the Gaurs. Bruzon has released foreign stars Hijazi Maher, Mahdi Talal, and Messi Bouli in a bid to freshen up his squad and end the club's long trophy drought.
