Durand Cup: East Bengal march into semis with 1-0 win over Indian Arm…

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 17 (ANI): A first-half header from PV Vishnu saw East Bengal FC edge past a spirited Indian Army FT side and book their place in the semifinals of the IndianOil Durand Cup played here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

On Sunday, heading into the knockout match, East Bengal went with an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation. sos-zagle.org.pl

Phurba Lachenpa started in goal, protected by Jay Gupta, Narender Gahlot, Lalchungnunga and Boris Singh in defence. Rohit Kumar and Mohamad Basim Rashid formed the double pivot, providing a platform for Dani Ramirez, Christopher Ikonomidis and P.V. Vishnu to operate behind lone striker David Lalhlansanga, as per a press release.

Indian Army FT, meanwhile, opted for a defensive 5-3-2 formation to absorb the anticipated pressure. Bhabindra Malla Thakuri started between the sticks, with Sunil Benchamin, Pardeep Singh, Lethaolen Khongsai, Chabin Rabha and Shafeel PP forming the five-man defensive line. Abhishek Shankar Pawar, P Christopher Kamei and Shubham Rana comprised the midfield, while Samir Murmu and Saikhom Borish Singh led the attack.

East Bengal stamped their authority on the contest from the opening whistle, dominating possession and pinning the Army men deep inside their own half. The first major opening arrived in the sixth minute following an excellent passing move, but Spanish playmaker Dani Ramirez could not capitalise.

The Kolkata side continued to probe and came close again in the 12th minute from a set-piece. Ramirez delivered a beautifully struck left-footed in-swinging free-kick that beat the goalkeeper but narrowly missed the target, brushing the wrong side of the side-netting.

The one-way traffic continued through the second quarter, with Indian Army struggling to cope with East Bengal’s intensity. Ramirez turned provider in the 20th minute, playing a precise ball to release David Lalhlansanga, but the forward could not apply the finishing touch.

Moments later, centre-back Lalchungnunga ventured forward and unleashed a powerful long-range effort that forced Bhabindra Malla Thakuri into an acrobatic save.

Indian Army struggled to put together sustained passages of possession, often relying on aerial duels and long balls to relieve the pressure. East Bengal’s best opportunity of the half came in the 29th minute when Jay Gupta delivered a pinpoint cross for P.V. Vishnu, who found himself unmarked in a one-on-one situation. However, the forward’s grounded effort went straight into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.

East Bengal finally found the breakthrough in the 38th minute. Christopher Ikonomidis delivered an inviting cross into the box, and Vishnu made amends for his earlier miss, rising highest to meet the delivery with a perfectly timed header into the right corner. Thakuri got his fingertips to the effort but could not keep it out as East Bengal took a deserved 1-0 lead.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade maintained their control for the remainder of the half, with Mohamad Basim Rashid trying his luck from distance shortly before the interval, although his effort drifted wide.

Indian Army showed greater attacking intent after the restart and earned an early corner, which the East Bengal defence dealt with comfortably. Rashid then attempted an ambitious long-range strike from well outside the box, but his powerful effort sailed over the crossbar.

East Bengal nearly doubled their advantage around the hour mark when substitute Jesin TK intercepted a long ball from Rashid and raced past the advancing goalkeeper. However, his attempt struck the crossbar, denying the substitute an immediate impact.

Indian Army produced their best opportunity of the contest shortly afterwards. Substitute Abhi S. Biju found space before unleashing a powerful low effort that flashed just wide of the target.

East Bengal responded in the 67th minute when substitute Edmund Lalrindika picked out Ramirez inside the box, but the Spaniard’s effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

As the match entered its final stages, East Bengal’s attacking intensity dipped, but they continued to create clear-cut opportunities. The closing ten minutes became a frustrating sequence of missed one-on-one chances.

In the 80th minute, Bipin Singh set up Jesin TK with a precise pass, but the forward failed to convert from close range. Moments later, Jesin returned the favour by putting Bipin through, only for the winger to squander another one-on-one opportunity.

Jesin had another chance to seal the result in the 87th minute when he met a cross from Edmund, but his header went straight at Thakuri.

With five minutes of stoppage time added, Indian Army almost produced a dramatic equaliser against the run of play. In the 91st minute, Abhishek Shankar Pawar unleashed a dangerous effort that briefly threatened to spoil East Bengal’s dominant display, but the Kolkata side survived the late scare.

Although Indian Army improved considerably after half-time and created a couple of genuine openings, East Bengal remained in control for much of the contest, enjoying around 80 per cent of the overall possession.

The Red-and-Gold Brigade ultimately secured a deserved victory, although their dominance could have been reflected in a more emphatic scoreline had they converted the numerous clear-cut opportunities they created. (ANI)

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Gelsenkirchen [Germany], August 17 (ANI): Kylian Mbappe was among the scorers, while new signing Yan Diomande also made his club debut during Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Schalke in their final pre-season friendly.

With their win on Sunday, the returning manager Jose Mourinho stays unbeaten, having won four pre-season games so far ahead of their La Liga opener against Espanyol next Saturday, as per ESPN.

Mbappe put Real Madrid in the lead just five minutes into the game courtesy a defensive error by the opponents, and Huijsen’s header doubled the lead 15 minutes later, before substitute Espi nailed the final blow in the second half.

Two summer signings, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, were in the starting eleven, while four other signings, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Espi and Yan Diomande, were on the bench.

“It was positive as a team, and positive individually," Mourinho said, as quoted by ESPN.

“There are some players who arrived later and don’t yet have the same intensity as the guys who started on day one. Those who started on day one have had 30 training sessions and six matches. Those who arrived now have had three or four training sessions."

“There is, obviously, a difference in rhythm, intensity, and stamina. But tactically, the ideas are gradually taking shape," he added.

Madrid made four changes after the interval, introducing Andriy Lunin, Antonio Rudiger, Eduardo Camavinga and Espi while Diamonde and Cucurella were also introduced after one hour. Jude Bellingham, who just joined the camp on Wednesday, got some minutes under his belt.

“I am very happy," Cucurella said. “I think it was a good game from everyone, and it is our last result before starting the league. They are my first minutes. It was a long wait, I am finding my rhythm, and I am looking forward to getting started in the league," he added.

On the new signings, Mourhinoo said, “At this point, it’s difficult to talk about individuals because we are growing as a team. Here we only have good players, very good players, and very, very, very good players. And from the combined work of these players, we have to create a very, very good team."

“That is what we are trying to do … It is not easy to jump straight into the high intensity we are working on. It is not easy for them to have double sessions, morning and afternoon. And it is incredibly hot," he signed off. (ANI)

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London [UK], August 17 (ANI): Manchester Super Giants (MSG) co-owner Sanjiv Goenka expressed his happiness at his team winning their maiden Men’s Hundred title, calling the campaign a “team effort from the first game to the last".

A bludgeoning half-century from Tim Seifert helped Manchester Super Giants (MSG) capture their maiden Men’s Hundred title, beating Trent Rockets by five wickets in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Posting on X, Goenka wrote, “Champions in our very first season! @ManchesterSG100 What a night it has been at Lord’s, a proud moment for all of us in the Super Giants family. This was a team effort from the first game to the last. Tim, what an innings. Noor, a brilliant spell with the ball and wickets at the times we needed them."

He also praised Jos Buttler’s leadership as a player and as a stand-in captain in place of Aiden Markram, and how the whole squad came together during the knockouts.

“Jos has led from the front all season, and the way the whole squad came together through the knockouts is what turned this season around. Congratulations to Jos and to every player who made this happen. And a special thank you to our supporters, you willed this team on all the way. This one is for you," he added.

Champions in our very first season! @ManchesterSG100

What a night it has been at Lord’s, a proud moment for all of us in the Super Giants family. This was a team effort from the first game to the last. Tim, what an innings. Noor, a brilliant spell with the ball and wickets at… pic.twitter.com/fNOO18Wpfe

— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) August 16, 2026

Seifert had a memorable night, taking home the ‘Player of the Match’ and the ‘Player of the Tournament award as he effortlessly hit sixes to help his team chase down a modest total. In 10 innings, Seifert made 394 runs at an average of 49.25, with a strike rate of 168.37 and five fifties.

Winning the toss, MSG elected to field first, with Ben Duckett (31 in 24 balls, with three fours and a six) adding 48 runs for the first wicket with Finn Allen (15). Following that, the team crumbled to 95/5, with Noor Ahmed’s (3/33) spin web demolishing the Rockets’ batting line-up. Aneurin Donald (38 in 19 balls, with five fours and two sixes) looked good, but fell to Noor, sending half the side into the pavilion.

Cameos from Mitchell Santner (20 in 16 balls, with a four and a six) and Lewis Gregory (32 in 16 balls, with two fours and three sixes), who added 44 runs for the sixth wicket, took the Rockets to 158/8, with pacer Sonny Baker (2/34) and Josh Tongue (1/27) also causing considerable damage.

During the chase, Seifert and Paul Walter (22 in 14 balls, with two fours and a six) added 66-runs for the first wicket, while Buttler also played a quick cameo of 23 in 14 balls, with three sixes. Seifert was on a rampage, reaching his fifty in 23 balls and becoming the first player to make five fifties in a single edition of the tournament.

Seifert (72 in 38 balls, with four boundaries and seven sixes) and Leus du Plooy (27* in 18 balls, with four boundaries) took the team to the brink of victory. With three runs needed in three balls, Liam Dawson unleashed the winning six, chasing down the total with five wickets and two balls in hand.

Mohammad Amir (3/29) was the pick of the bowlers for Rockets. (ANI)

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New Delhi [India], August 17 (ANI): Outer Delhi Warriors produced a strong batting performance to defeat Purani Dilli 6 by 21 runs in a high-scoring Delhi Premier League (DPL) 2026 fixture on Sunday.

Batting first, the Warriors posted a huge 219/5 in 20 overs, with Yajas Sharma, Akshay Saini and Harsh Tyagi playing key roles.

The Warriors got off to a flying start as openers Priyansh Arya and Yajas Sharma added 120 runs for the first wicket in just over nine overs. Arya played a quick knock of 30 off 21 balls (with a four and two sixes) before being dismissed, but Yajas continued to attack the Purani Dilli 6 bowlers.

Yajas was in complete control and kept scoring at a rapid pace. He eventually fell for an excellent 86 off 36 balls (with 10 fours and five sixes), but the Warriors continued to score freely despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs.

With the innings needing a strong finish, Harsh Tyagi and Akshay Saini stepped up and added 55 runs for the fifth wicket. Tyagi scored 32 off 15 balls (with a four and three sixes), while Saini provided the final push with a quick-fire 49* off 23 balls (with three fours and sixes each) to take the Warriors to 219/5.

For Purani Dilli 6, Digvesh Rathi was the standout bowler, returning figures of 3/25 in his four overs.

Chasing 220, Purani Dilli 6 also made an impressive start. Openers Samarth Seth and Aryan Gaur put together 104 runs for the first wicket, giving their side hope of chasing down the big target.

Gaur led the attack with a brilliant 65 off 37 balls (with six fours and four sixes), while Seth contributed 42 off 24 balls (with four boundaries and two sixes). However, the Warriors fought back strongly once the opening partnership was broken.

Aman Chaudhary played a key role in turning the game in the Warriors’ favour, picking up three wickets in his first three overs and eventually completing his spell with figures of 4/38 in four overs. The wickets triggered a mini-collapse and put Purani Dilli 6 under pressure.

Lalit Yadav (29 in 23 balls, with two fours and a six) and Ashwini Chillar (19 in 13) then tried to rebuild the innings, but the required run rate continued to climb. Yadav was eventually dismissed hit wicket by Harsh Tyagi for 29 off 23 balls.

With Purani Dilli 6 needing 41 runs from the final over, the result was virtually decided as Outer Delhi Warriors managed an easy win.

Outer Delhi Warriors are at the second spot in the table, with five wins, two losses and a tie, giving them 11 points, with Purani Dilli 6 at third spot with nine points. (ANI)

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