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NEROCA FC and Indian Navy Football Team drew 0-0 in a tightly contested Group F match at the 134th Durand Cup.
(Credit: I-League)
NEROCA FC and Indian Navy Football Team played out a cagey 0–0 draw in a tightly contested Group F encounter at the 134th Durand Cup on Thursday.
Despite both sides creating several promising openings, neither managed to find the net, settling for a point each at the end of a disciplined and tactically balanced fixture.
NEROCA head coach Gyan Moyon made three changes to the side that featured in the Imphal Derby, opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jetli Sorokhaibam replaced Bishorjit Singh in goal, while Gotimayum Muktasana was deployed in midfield and Brazilian defender Lucas Da Silva was introduced to solidify the backline.
The Indian Navy, known for their organisation and discipline, started on the front foot with Deny Singh attempting the game’s first shot in the 6th minute. His right-footed drive from the right wing was well saved by Jetli, who dived low to his left.
NEROCA responded swiftly in the 11th minute through a quick counter led by Lourembam, who latched onto a through ball and unleashed a low shot that Bhaskar Roy, the Navy goalkeeper, dealt with comfortably.
As the game progressed, NEROCA gained a slight edge in possession, frequently testing the Navy defence with wide runs from Lourembam and Rohit Meetei. However, the Navy’s backline, led by Roshan Panna and Adersh, held firm under pressure.
On the other end, Indian Navy’s playmaker Deny Singh orchestrated play from deep, trying to unlock NEROCA’s defence with incisive passes to Sreyas. One such opportunity came in the 27th minute, but Sreyas’s shot lacked conviction and was comfortably saved by Jetli.
Second Half Drama Without Goals
Both teams came out with renewed intent after the break. The Navy’s best chance of the half came in the 50th minute when Roshan Panna teed up Deny Singh, whose curling effort from distance spun narrowly wide. Deny had another go just minutes later, but again failed to trouble the keeper.
In the 60th minute, NEROCA captain Kamesh Singh nearly broke the deadlock with a well-timed run and left-footed effort from a lofted ball, but he too missed the mark. A freekick awarded to the Navy three minutes later was taken by Adersh, whose shot hit the wall.
The game’s most dramatic moment came in the 88th minute when substitute Sadananda Singh delivered a pin-point ball into the box for an unmarked Sreyas, who struck the post from close range. NEROCA nearly capitalised on the rebound with Gomado finding space at the other end, but he shot wide under pressure.
Points Shared, Group F Wide Open
The draw leaves both sides with one point each in Group F, where qualification is still very much up for grabs. While the match lacked goals, it was a showcase of tactical discipline and defensive organisation from both teams, with goalkeepers Jetli and Bhaskar Roy standing out.
With tougher fixtures ahead, both teams will need to sharpen their finishing if they are to make a serious push for the knockout stages in Asia’s oldest football competition.
(with PTI inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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