Peryra Diaz brace in comfortable Bengaluru FC opening win in the 133rd IndianOil Durand

Indian Navy FT – 0         Bengaluru FC – 4 (Rahul Bheke 10’, Sunil Chhetri 42’,Peryra Diaz 80’, 90+1’) 

Kolkata, July 31^st, 2024: Former champions Bengaluru FC, rode on first-half goals from Rahul Bheke and Sunil Chhetri and a second-half brace by Jorge Peryra Diaz, to put it across the Indian Navy Football Team (INFT) 4-0, in a Group B encounter here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK). 

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, Bengaluru’s new Spanish manager, played the combination of Sivasakthi and Australian striker Ryan Williams upfront starting the likes of talisman Sunil Chhetri and new recruit Jorge Peryra-Diaz on the bench. The Navy’s Raman Rai began with a tried and trusted eleven, with last year’s captain and defence bulwark Dalraj Singh, on the bench.

The Blues, today in their away red outfits, did not disappoint in the rain, taking full advantage of the absence of someone like Dalraj to step on the gas from get go.

Sivasakthi could have got a hat-trick in the first 15-minutes, but instead it was the experienced India centre-back Rahul Bheke who scored the first goal of the game. Off Alberto Noguera Ripoll’s corner, Bheke charged away from his marker onto the first post and rose to deflect his header past the navy keeper Vishnu.

Zaragoza then made his first move and brought on Chhetri and he scored with his first touch, converting a penalty after Navjot was shown a red card for a foul on Williams inside the box.

The second-half followed the pattern of the first with Bengaluru dominating, despite Raman Rai bringing in Dalraj. The only goal of the half however, came as late as in the 80^th minute. 

After yet another of Zaragoza’s substitutes Peryra Diaz had missed a sitter thanks to Vishnu’s continued heroics, he was setup with a delicate chip, as Chhetri turned provider this time after a gathering a second-ball inside the box off a corner. The Argentine placed the header safely past Vishnu for his first of the tournament.

His second came in the first minute of added time when Ripoll found him with a lob from his own half and the Argentine gamely charged down the pitch to place it past Vishnu into the bottom left corner.

Heavyweight Clash Tomorrow

ISL Trophy Winners Mumbai City FC will take on Kerala Blasters in a heavyweight clash of Group C at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Even though Mumbai City will be fielding their reserves side, the match promises to be an exciting affair. The match will kick-off at 7 PM. 

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.