Durand Cup: Jamshedpur FC clinch first win, Indian Army Football beat Bodoland FC 2-1

Kolkata (West Bengal)/Kokrajhar (Assam) [India], August 18 : Jamshedpur FC bagged their first win in the Durand Cup 2023 as they beat the Indian Navy Football Team 1-0 at the Mohun Bagan Ground here on Thursday.
A late goal by Ashley Koli in the 70th minute led the Men of Steel to all three points against the Indian Navy team.
Both sides tried to attack from the first whistle as they looked to open their account early in the game. Jamshedpur FC got an opportunity in the 39th minute with a penalty in which Lalriathpuia Chawngthu was denied goal by the Indian Navy goalkeeper Robinson. This ended the first half in a stalemate for both teams.
JFC came out firing in the second half and manufactured an opportunity right at the start. Asem Maingou Singh missed an opportunity in the 55th minute followed by a counterattack by the Indian Navy team in the very next minute which was stopped in its tracks by Pallujam Rohan Singh on the goal line.
Jamshedpur FC Goalkeeper Ayush Jena was replaced by Mohit Singh Dhami in the 57th minute due to an injury. The game turned in the favour of Jamshedpur FC when Ashley Koli in the 70th minute scored a header that hit the back of the net.
The young Men of Steel held on till the final whistle and thus tasted victory for the very first time in the Durand Cup 2023. Jamshedpur FC will face Mohammedan Sporting in their next match on 20th August at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
On the other hand, Indian Army FT held on in a high-intensity match that saw some injury-time drama to beat local side Bodoland FC 2-1 to secure their second consecutive victory in a Group F fixture of the tournament at the SAI Stadium.
Samir Murmu gave the lead for the Army side early in the first half while Suresh Meitei scored the decisive goal from the spot in the fourth minute of second-half extra time. Joe Aidoo scored the consolation for the home side in the 11th minute of injury time. Indian Army’s captain and goalkeeper Bhabindra Thakuri was sent off for his second yellow card. Indian Army FT has six points from two matches after this victory while Bodoland are out of the race for a place in the knockouts after their second loss in the tournament.
Bodoland FC Head Coach Daimalu Basumatary made four changes to the starting lineup from his first match with Danswrand Basumatary, Cornelius Pudaite, Nicodim Narjary and Joseph Mayowa Olaleye coming in. Indian Army FT Head Coach L Antony Ramesh made one forced change to his starting lineup as Liton Shil was suspended for his red card in the previous match. Alwin E started in his place.
It was the local side backed by a vociferous home crowd who were on the front foot from the start. They created the first scoring opportunity as Arjun Mardi’s looping cross found Joseph Olaleye but his header went wide. Indian Army made them pay for that miss by scoring on the other end. P. Christopher Kamei’s brilliant ball found Samir Murmu who ran free from the defence and headed past the Bodoland keeper.
The Army side could have doubled the lead soon but Alwin’s effort was saved by Bodoland keeper Birkhang Daimary. Bodoland FC had a golden opportunity to equalize from a mistake by Zothanpuia. Nicodim Narjary took advantage of the defender’s slip and chipped past the Indian Army goalkeeper Bhabindra Thakuri to put the ball back off the post. Nicodim had another opportunity to score again in the half. The lively Arjun Mardi found Nicodim free inside the box but the forward scuffed his shot which went above the crossbar. Bodoland were creating the better chances in the half but their finishing was off the mark. Ansumana Kromah and Echezona Celestine's efforts were straight at the Army goalkeeper. The home side had 62 per cent of the ball in the half but were unable to find the equalizer as the Army side took their lead to the break.
After resumption, Indian Army had better control and possession of the ball. They defended deep and kept the ball, frustrating the Bodoland attackers. Bodoland were playing in the same pattern as they did in the first half but lacked the finishing touch inside the final third. Bodoland managed to put the ball inside the net twice but it was ruled out by the referee for an infringement on Army goalkeeper Bhabindra Thakuri. Bodoland coach brought in the changes to freshen up the attack for the home side. There was end-to-end football by both sides but without a goal to show for it.
Referee Pratik Mondal awarded ten minutes of extra time as there were multiple stoppages for injuries to the players. Army who were defending deep and playing on the counter-attacks found the second goal in the fourth minute of injury time. Bikash Thapa’s solo run was stopped illegally by the Bodoland Captain Didwim Hazowary. Suresh Meitei converted the penalty sending the goalkeeper in the wrong way ensuring three points for Indian Army. But there was more action to come as Bodoland struck one back in the 11th minute of extra time through Joe Aidoo. His thumping header from a corner found the top corner of the goal. A frustrated Army captain and goalkeeper Bhabindra Thakuri kicked the ball away in frustration which led to him receiving a second booking and as a result, being red-carded. In the end, Indian Army held on to their slender lead to secure their second consecutive victory in the tournament.