Last Updated:
Diamond Harbour FC shocked Mohammedan SC 2-1 in the 134th edition of the Durand Cup 2025 campaign.
Luka Majcen for Diamond Harbour FC (X)
Diamond Harbour FC shocked Mohammedan Sporting Club 2-1 in the 134th edition of the Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) on Monday.
Thokchom Adison Singh opened the scoring, while Sairuatkima equalised next, and ultimately Luka Majcen netted the winning goal in added time.
It was a frantic start despite the timid atmosphere at the Salt Lake for the Kolkata derby.
The Black and White brigade turned over possession after conceding an early corner. In the 3rd minute, Sajal Bag won the ball and set off, finding Ashley Alban Koli as the pair, along with Lalthankima could not turn the ball into the back of the net. There were shouts for a penalty, too, but the referee waved away requests.
The game, though, soon descended into an exchange of toothless attacks and missed passes.
Diamond Harbour had chances, but Clayton Da Silveira could not find his feet in a crucial moment after receiving a pass from Jobby Justin.
In the 27th minute, it was DHFC who had a golden chance to take the early lead. A danced pass from Paul Ramfangzauva found Naro Hari Shrestha, who in turn chested the ball down for Clayton. The Brazilian tried to get the ball back to the Bengal forward, but found Mohammedan’s Joseph Lalmuanwna. Unfortunately, it was not cleared completely as the ball fell at the feet of Clayton, whose snapshot whizzed just wide of the upright.
Mohammedan were growing in confidence as their opponents kept missing chances.
In the 36th minute, Ashley sent Thokchom Adison Singh down the right as the Manipuri winger took a few touches to gun down the goal. He blazed a shot straight at the keeper, but Mirshad Koottappunna just could not get down fast enough low to his left as the ball went through his hands, deflected off his right, and went into the goal. Against the run of play, the Black Panthers took the lead.
Diamond Harbour looked immediately for an answer. Melroy Assisi bombed forward for a corner, but his thunderous header went straight into the hands of Subhajit Bhattacharjee.
It was Mohammedan who almost had another with the pair of Ashley and Adison combining again.
Ashley ran down the left wing, tried to find Adison with an outside of the foot pass as the forward did well to try and direct the ball forward, but his effort bounced just wide. The keeper was completely beaten.
At the restart, Kibu Vicuna opted to change things up. In came Luka Majcen and Samuel Lalmuanouia.
Diamond Harbour looked immediately more threatening. Luka slipped in a pass to Paul, but his shot was saved by Subhajit under the bar. From the resulting corner, which Samuel took, he found the head of Sairuatkima, who thundered his header into the back of the net for the equaliser in the 51st minute.
Luka was the man pulling the strings and asking the players to combine around him as Diamond Harbour grabbed control of the game. But the Mohammedan youngster held on as the scoreline did not change.
In the 83rd, Luka tried to get past the last defender but was body-checked. Despite the calls for a penalty, the referee did not move.
At the other end, Sajal Bag tried an attempt from distance, but an outstretched hand from Mirshad saw the ball bounce off the bar.
There was another mad rush for a winner in the dying minutes of the match. Kibu did not give up hope for a winner, which arrived just short of the 100th minute.
A long ball was smartly chested by Samuel into the path of Luka, who got his shot off quickly. It was saved, but the ball somehow managed to get the ball back at his feet. He did not make any mistake on the second time of asking, slotting home to hand Diamond Harbour a historic win.
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More
view comments
- First Published:
