Bengaluru posts comfortable win to go on top of the table

Bengaluru FC –3 (Mendez (P) 17’, Noguera 77’, Chhetri 83’)                          Inter Kashi- 0

Kokrajhar, August 03, 2024: Former champions Bengaluru FC posted a comfortable 3-0 victory over I-League outfit Inter Kashi in Group B of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup played here at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK). The goals were scored by their Spanish recruits Edgar Mendez and Alberto Noguera Ripoll, with the final strike coming from their talisman Sunil Chhetri. The Blues after their opening four-goal win against the Indian Navy thus maintained a 100% record while Inter Kashi, who drew their first game against Mohammedan Sporting, will look to win big in their final group game to harbor hopes of going through.

All 43 matches of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Ten2 HD) as well as livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform

Gerard Zaragoza made a couple of changes to his starting 11 and one of them Mendez, brought dividends in the first half itself with a calm composed penalty, wrong footing Subham Dhas in the Kashi goal. Talisman Sunil Chhetri again started from the bench but was broughton again, this time in the second half. Izumi Arata, the Kashi gaffer trusted the same 11 however, which won the point against Mohammedan Sporting in their first game.

The Pilgrims could not get a shot at goal in the first-half as the Blues took control of possession and most of the attacking forays. Inter Kashi’s defence however did well to thwart most of their efforts at goal till Panicker’s discretion in bringing the ball down with his chest inside the box cost them dearly. The referee pointed to spot and Mendez broke the deadlock.

After the break, Zaragoza introduced all his big guns including Jorge Peryra Diaz and Ryan Williams, besides Chhetri as already mentioned and the Blues intensity went up instantly. Chhetri had two chances to score within minutes of coming on.

They had to eventually wait till the 77^th minute for the second as Ripoll, who had been having a brilliant game in midfield, finished a move he himself initiated. He found Chhetri making a run inside the box on the right who crossed for Peryra Diaz to back-heel to Ripoll who had come in following the move. The Spanish midfielder made no mistake with the right-footed finish past Dhas.

Soon the third came when Chhetri nonchalantly came rushing in to the near post off a corner and leaped to direct his header down perfectly, beating Dhas yet again. It could have been worse for Inter Kashi but Ryan Williams missed a penalty when Anand Usudabrought him down inside the box.

ABOUT DURAND CUP

A symbol of India’s football history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest football tournament. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing talent, over the years.

The inaugural edition happened in Shimla in 1888 and then the tournament moved to New Delhi in 1940, where it was held till 2016. In 2019, the tournament came under the aegis of the Eastern Command and moved to the eastern part of the country, with Kolkata, the Mecca of Indian football and the Eastern Command Headquarters, being the home base. What makes the Durand Cup even more unique is that the winners get three trophies, two rotating (Durand Cup and Shimla Trophy) and one for permanent keep (President’s Cup).

As we embark on this exciting journey over the coming weeks, let us celebrate the beautiful game of football, honour the traditions of the Durand Cup, and look forward to witnessing moments of brilliance that will be etched in our memories forever.