IMAGE: Anirudha Thapa celebrates after scoring the opening goal for Mohun Bagan Super Giant against Diamond Harbour FC in Durand Cup 2025, in Kolkata on Saturday. Photograph: Durand Cup/X
Mohun Bagan Super Giant drubbed Diamond Harbour FC 5-1 to storm into the quarterfinals of the Durand Cup, in Kolkata on Saturday.
In a crunch Group B match, Anirudh Thapa gave the lead to the Mariners as Luka Majcen equalised after five minutes but Jamie MacLaren, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Jason Cummings ensured that Mohun Bagan sealed a last-eight spot as group winners.
Diamond Harbour will now have to rely on other results to get their place in the knockouts as one of the best second-placed teams.
Mohun Bagan broke the deadlock in the 19th minute as Anirudh Thapa collected a first-time pass on the edge of the box and curled a beautifully-struck shot into the top-right corner.
Diamond Harbour responded emphatically just four minutes later.
A defensive mix-up from Mohun Bagan left Luka Majcen with space in the box, and he capitalised clinically by slotting home past the advancing Vishal Kaith to restore parity.
The match remained evenly poised until the 33rd minute when Bagan regained control. A poor pass from the Diamond Harbour goalkeeper gifted possession to Jamie MacLaren, who pounced instantly with a precise toe-poke finish that restored the Mariners’ lead and sent the home crowd into raptures.
As the referee blew for halftime, Mohun Bagan held a narrow lead at 2–1.
In the second-half, it didn’t take long for Bagan to tighten their grip on the contest.
Just minutes after the restart, the Mariners were awarded a penalty when Liston Colaco was brought down inside the box by Naresh Singh Yendrembam following a sharp run.
The foul resulted in the defender receiving a straight red card and Diamond Harbour being reduced to ten men.
Colaco stepped up for the resultant penalty and converted with composure, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 3–1.
The pressure paid off in the 64th minute when a defensive lapse from Diamond Harbour allowed Sahal to pounce on a loose ball inside the box.
With trademark calmness, the midfielder slotted home past the goalkeeper to seal Bagan’s fourth goal of the night.
In the 80th minute Cummings, positioned with acres of space on the edge of the box, was played in perfectly by a well-timed pass.
With composure and precision, Cummings stroked the ball into the net, marking a splendid fifth goal for Mohun Bagan.
Bodoland FC knock out Punjab FC
IMAGE: Bodoland FC’s Robinson Blandon Rendon celebrates after scoring against Punjab FC. Photograph: Durand Cup/X
Earlier, in a Group D clash in Kokrajhar, Assam, Colombian Robinson Blandon Rendon struck in the second-half to guide Bodoland FC to a narrow 1-0 win over the much-fancied Punjab FC.
The result not only eliminated the ISL side from the tournament but also perched Bodoland on top of the group.
Punjab ended their group-stage campaign with four points from two matches while Bodoland have six points from two matches.
The first-half unfolded in heavy rain, with Punjab immediately taking the initiative against the local side.
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.
At the half-time, the score remained 0–0, with Punjab FC’s attacking trio unable to breach Bodoland’s disciplined defence.
The turning point came when Gwgwmsar delivered a teasing cross into the Punjab box. Amid the scramble, Rendon, showing his predatory instincts, latched onto the rebound and rifled the ball past goalkeeper Ravi Kumar, sending the home fans into jubilation.
The local side, prodded by the partisan crowd, ensured that they maintained the lead and secure their second straight win of the Durand Cup, their best performance in the age-old tournament.
