Durand Cup 2022: Mumbai City FC eye top spot in Group B; Perfect Hyderabad FC face Army Red
Hyderabad FC (HFC) will look to maintain their all-win group stage record when they face the Army Red Football Team (ARFT) at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, as the Durand Cup reaches Matchday 19 on Saturday.
Hyderabad FC (HFC) will look to maintain their all-win group stage record when they face the Army Red Football Team (ARFT) at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, as the Durand Cup reaches Matchday 19 on Saturday.
The second game of the tournament’s last Group Stage Super Saturday features Mumbai City FC against East Bengal FC, at the Salt Lake stadium where the former will look to secure the top spot in Group B.
Hyderabad FC on course for perfect record
Hero Indian Super League (ISL) champions Hyderabad FC have been most impressive in the tournament, qualifying as group toppers with three wins in three games. They have scored eight goals, conceding just the one against Chennayin and tournament's highest scorer Bartholomew Ogbeche with four goals, is continuing with his hot Indian streak.
🤩 It's Matchday!
— Hyderabad FC (@HydFCOfficial) September 3, 2022
Back in action for one last time in Imphal in the group stage and they boys are ready to work hard and fight for the win!
Let's go, Hyderabad... 💪#AREDHFC #IndianOilDurandCup #మనహైదరాబాద్ #HyderabadFC 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/5IRR0WU2eW
There will be no let-up for the Army Red team who will be smarting from their previous game defeat to TRAU FC, which ensured their campaign would end in the group stages.
One team on a roll while the other with nothing to play for in this instance, does not bode well for the Reds, one can safely assume.
East Bengal FC will look to go out on a high in front of home fans
Once arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) defeated the Indian Navy, any hopes East Bengal FC had of qualifying for the knockouts evaporated. They would still like to go out on a high though in front of home fans when they face Mumbai City FC in both the team’s final encounter in Group B.
The Torchbearers are up next in our final game in Group B of #DurandCup2022! 🔜#EEBMCFC #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/rsbKlFlIM0
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) September 1, 2022
MCFC on the other hand will want to ensure the top spot in the group and not leave anything to chance, given the Group’s final game pitting Rajasthan United FC (RUFC) against the Indian Navy gives rise to a complicated scenario, in the event of a Rajasthan win.
Mumbai drew with ATKMB while easily putting it across the Navy and RUFC, almost steamrolling the latter in their previous game. EEB face the daunting prospect of doing against a solid MCFC, what they have not been able to do yet in the tournament which is to score.
However, East Bengal FC has provided difficult to score against, a hallmark of a Stephen Constantine side and have looked to improve with every game. MCFC will have a fight in their hand.
Both matches will be shown live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD and will be streamed Live on Voot Select.