As the dust settles on a thrilling set of group stage fixtures in the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup, the focus will now shift to the knockout stage of the tournament. Announced through a virtual draw conducted in the presence of team representatives, the road to the final was chalked out by the tournament organizers late last week; promising intriguing storylines & nail-biting action for viewers on Sony LIV.
With the ultimate showdown scheduled for August 31 at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), the top eight teams will now battle it out for a coveted spot in the semi-finals of the Durand Cup!
Road To The Final:
Topping ‘Group E’ with nine points from three matches, Northeast United FC will enter the knockout phase of the tournament in a rich vein of form following their 5-1 humbling of Odisha FC. As the first quarter-final game of the tournament, the Northeast outfit will take on the tournament’s dark horse this season in Indian Army FT. Booking their route to the final with a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Jamshedpur FC, the army team imbibes a never surrender attitude which saw them score three goals in 13 minutes against Jamshedpur FC to confirm their spot in the quarterfinals.
In the second round of fixtures, East Bengal FC will travel to Meghalaya to face Shillong Lajong in the second quarter-final matchup. With 16 Durand Cup titles under their belt, East Bengal FC will come across a well-oiled Lajong side, which managed to top ‘Group F’ ahead of joint tournament favorites, FC Goa. Seeking to avenge last season’s final defeat, East Bengal will look to secure the silverware this time around, with a potential replay of the 2023 final against archrivals Mohan Bagan Super Giants also a looming possibility.
The third knockout game of the tournament will feature a mix of old and new in Mohan Bagan Super Giants & Punjab FC respectively. With 17 championships to their name, Mohan Bagan Super Giants are the most successful team in the competition. In only their second outing in the tournament, Punjab FC will be faced with a monumental task; scripting the upset of the tournament against the defending champions.
Finally, Bengaluru FC will put their unstained record in the cup to the test as they welcome Kerala Blasters at the Salt Lake. Topping both their groups; Kerala progressed from a group that included the likes of CISF Protectors, Punjab FC & Mumbai City. Bengaluru FC on the other hand, had to navigate qualification into the final eight fighting for their spot against Indian Navy, Inter Kashi & Mohammedan SC. With both teams having conceded only 3 goals between them, they will once again put their faith in their attacking prowess to lead the way; Bengaluru has scored 10 goals and secured 9 points in 3 games, while Kerala has found the net 16 times in only 3 games.
Quarter-Final Fixtures:
August 21, 4pm: Northeast United FC vs Indian Army FT (SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar)
August 21, 7pm: Shillong Lajong FC vs East Bengal FC (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong)
August 23, 4pm: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Punjab FC (JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur)
August 23, 7pm: Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata)
Reaching its climax, football enthusiasts across the country are eagerly anticipating the final high-octane matches of India’s oldest football tournament, as we get ever closer to crowning the 2024 Durand Cup Champions LIVE on Sony LIV.
