Jamshedpur/Shillong: The 134th IndianOil Durand Cup reaches its penultimate day in the group stages on Monday with two fixtures set to seal the fate of Groups C and E on matchday 19. At the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur, Indian Army FT take on debutants 1 Ladakh FC knowing only victory along with a strong margin will keep their knockout hopes alive. Later in Shillong, defending champions NorthEast United FC meet Rangdajied United FC aiming to finish the group stage with a perfect record.
All 43 matches of the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup are being broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Ten 2 HD) and streamed on SonyLIV.
Group C showdown in Jamshedpur
Indian Army FT’s equation is simple – win big, and they will look to get into the knockouts as Group C runners-up behind Jamshedpur FC. A draw or defeat would end their campaign. The Army side currently sit second with three points from two games, having opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Tribhuvan Army FC courtesy of P. Christopher Kamei’s first-half strike.
Head coach Manish Wahi knows the task at hand, he said,“We have prepared well for tomorrow’s match. My boys are ready. We have to get 3 points tomorrow with a good goal margin and then we can only hope for the best. Ladakh is a very energetic team and we have to stay focused and follow our training ground routine.”
1 Ladakh FC have already made history simply by participating, the first team from the Union Territory to feature in Asia’s oldest football tournament. They opened with a 1-1 draw against Tribhuvan Army, defender Siju scoring their first-ever Durand Cup goal, before falling narrowly to group leaders Jamshedpur FC.
Coach Rajan Mani is relishing the final outing, he said, “We are very excited to play our last game tomorrow. We have been grateful to the Army for inviting us and giving us such a big National platform. We learned a lot from this tournament. We are ready for tomorrow’s match. Indian Army is a good team. They play at a very fast pace but we are also ready and will try to get three points.”
While already out of contention, Ladakh’s quick front three of Kamalesh, Ajay, and Bhaaranyu have caused problems for defences and will be keen to end their debut campaign on a high. Indian Army’s disciplined defensive structure and physical style will be tested by Ladakh’s youthful pace, but with knockout qualification at stake, urgency will be high from the first whistle.
Group E finale in Shillong
NorthEast United FC have already secured their knockout spot but will want to maintain momentum ahead of the quarter-finals. Six points from two wins, 3-1 against Malaysian Armed Forces FT and a comeback 2-1 victory over Shillong Lajong, have underlined their quality. Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been in sensational form, netting five times in two matches.
Coach Juan Pedro Benali has kept his squad focused, “We have qualified for the quarterfinals, but that doesn’t mean the work stops. Rather, we need to work harder because we have a lot of new players, we need to know each other better and improve. We are focused on the game, and after that, we will think of the quarterfinals.”
Rangdajied United are playing for pride after two losses, but coach Aiborlang Khongjee will demand commitment from his side in front of home supporters. Their compact defensive setup will need to withstand sustained pressure from one of the tournament’s most ruthless attacks, and they’ll look to strike on counter-attacks.
Victory would not only seal top spot in Group E but also ensure The Highlanders enter the knockouts unbeaten for a second successive season. For Rangdajied, the Durand Cup has been an invaluable experience for their young squad, offering rare competitive exposure against ISL-level opposition.
