Kolkata, Sep 21: Delhi FC and Bengaluru FC on Tuesday entered the quarter-finals of the 130th Durand Cup football tournament after notching up contrasting wins over Kerala Blasters and Indian Navy here respectively.
At the Kalyani Municipality Stadium, Willis Plaza scored the winner in the 53rd minute as Delhi beat Kerala 1-0, while Bengaluru recovered from a 0-2 deficit at the half-way stage to outwit Indian Navy 5-3 at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (YBK).
Plaza is now the top scorer of the tournament with four goals to his name.
It turned out to be a thrilling contest as Indian Navy led 2-0 against heavyweights Bengaluru FC at the end of the first-half.
In the 19th minute, Jijo took a gorgeous shot from outside the box to put Indian Navy one goal up. In the 30th minute, Sreyas scored the second for Navy.
Just a few minutes after half time, a fumble in the Navy goal meant Bengaluru’s Leon Augustine had an easy chance to score but he failed to convert. However, things changed quickly as Bengaluru raised the tempo as Leon halved the deficit in the 53rd minute.
Bengaluru sailed on their newfound momentum and were drawn back on level terms by Harmanpreet Singh in the 61st minute.
In the 75th minute, Bengaluru were awarded a penalty which Ajay Chhetri converted as the game seemed to be slipping away from the Navy.
Harmanpreet got his second of the game in the 81st minute to make it 4-2, essentially ending all hopes of a comeback.
Thoi Singh added a fifth to make it 5-2 in stoppage time but there was still room for one last strike, with Vijay scoring a consolation goal to end the game 5-3.
Harmanpreet of Bengaluru FC and defender Anwar Ali of Delhi were FC adjudged to be the Man of the Match.
Bengaluru ended at the top in Group C, while Delhi FC went through to the quarter-finals as runners-up from the group.
The quarter-final matches will get underway on Thursday at 3 pm with defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC up against local favourites Mohammedan Sporting at the VYBK. (PTI)
