Indian Super League (ISL) club Mohun Bagan Super Giant thumped Diamond Harbour FC by a 5-1 scoreline at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Saturday.

Anirudh Thapa, Jamie Maclaren, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Jason Cummings were on the scoresheet for the Mariners as they advanced to the Durand Cup quarter-finals.

Despite the Mariners missing key players like Manvir Singh, Alberto Rodriguez, and Suhail Bhat due to injuries, Jose Molina’s men dominated the game from the outset, controlling the ball possession and creating goal-scoring chances through both wings. Thapa broke the deadlock in the 19th minute with a beautiful curling finish from the edge of the box.

However, Diamond Harbour FC shortly found the equalizer courtesy of Luka Majcen’s goal from a one-on-one situation against Vishal Kaith. A sloppy defensive lapse from the MBSG’s backline saw them concede the goal in the 24th minute.

Maclaren restored the lead for the Kolkata giants with a clinical finish to score past the onrushing DHFC goalkeeper. Samad was again with his excellent passing range, initially snatched the ball from the opponent and played an inch-perfect through pass for the Australian, who got the better of it.

With that, Mohun Bagan Super Giant went onto the halftime break with a 2-1 lead.

Diamond Harbour FC were down to ten men early in the second half as Naresh received a direct red card for a foul on Colaco inside the penalty box. Colaco, who has been in great form in the tournament with four goals in two games, made no mistake in finding the back of the net from the spot.

Samad, who was looking in better shape since the opening minute, also found himself on the scoresheet. A brilliant link-up play among Liston, Cummings, and Sahal saw the Mariners increase their lead.

Cummings also joined the party with a brilliant strike from the edge of the box. The forward came off the bench early in the second half and scored the fifth in the 80th minute.

Following such a dominating victory, Mohun Bagan Super Giant sealed their spot in the Durand Cup quarter-finals.

Punjab FC bow out of the Durand Cup

Punjab FC suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Bodoland FC in their final Group D fixture at the Sports Authority of India Stadium in Kokrajhar on Saturday.

With this loss, last year’s quarterfinalists, Punjab FC, were eliminated from the tournament after ending the group stage campaign with four points from three matches.

Panagiotis Dilmperis made two changes to the Shers’ starting lineup, bringing in experienced midfielder Princeton Rebello and defender Pramveer Singh in place of Bijoy Varghese and Leon Augustine, respectively.

Nikhil Prabhu led from the back, threading passes into midfield where Princeton Rebello pulled the strings, launching an early strike that whistled just over the crossbar. On the wings, Vishal Yadav and Muhammad Suhail looked for openings, keeping Bodoland FC pinned in their half during the opening exchanges.

However, the Shers failed to convert their chances as Bodoland FC’s defensive pairing of Mosang Basumatary and Dinesh Basumatary stood firm, cutting out crosses and blocking shots. With that, the first half ended on a 0-0 scoreline.

Colombian striker Robinson Blandon Rendon scored the solitary goal in the 69th minute. The Bodoland FC forward latched onto the rebound and rifled the ball past PFC goalkeeper Ravi Kumar, giving the hosts a vital 1–0 lead.

Punjab FC responded with urgency, injecting fresh legs in a desperate attempt to level. Yet Bodoland’s backline, marshaled by defenders like Mosang Basumatary, held firm, repelling crosses and blocking shots.

The Shers’ efforts fell short, as their shots either went wide or were comfortably dealt with by the home side’s defense, handing the ISL side a heartbreaking defeat.

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant2024-2025Punjab FC