Sporting Club Delhi advanced to the semi-finals of the Durand Cup after a dominant second-half performance led to a 5-1 victory over debutants FC Raengdai of Manipur. The quarter-final match, held in Ranchi on Sunday, saw SC Delhi overcome an early deficit to secure their place in the next round of the tournament.
FC Raengdai initially took the lead in the ninth minute through a spectacular long-range strike from Chongtham Kishan Singh. His shot from approximately 20 metres out dipped late, hit the inside of the crossbar, and found the back of the net, leaving SC Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes with no chance. Despite Raengdai controlling possession, SC Delhi focused on counter-attacks, creating early opportunities. In the seventh minute, Lamgoulen Semkholun delivered a cross that Juan Sebastian Pena headed towards the far post, though it went over the bar.
Second-Half Turnaround
SC Delhi intensified their efforts after the first half, and the introduction of substitute Joseph Sunny proved to be a turning point. Sunny nearly made an immediate impact in the 52nd minute, setting up new signing Rodriguinho, whose shot was saved by Raengdai goalkeeper Kamei Pantiga.
However, five minutes later, Sunny found the equaliser. Pena initiated the move, releasing Sunny, who collected the ball at the edge of the box and fired a precise low shot between two defenders into the bottom-left corner. This goal significantly boosted SC Delhi’s confidence. Just ten minutes later, Pena was again instrumental, delivering a no-look pass that allowed Sunny to make an inch-perfect run into the penalty area. Sunny then calmly finished past Pantiga in a one-on-one situation, completing SC Delhi’s comeback and putting them ahead.
Rodriguinho extended SC Delhi’s lead four minutes after Sunny’s second goal. The forward displayed composure, maneuvering past two defenders while maintaining control of the ball, before slotting a left-footed finish past Pantiga to make the score 3-1. The final stages of the match saw a flurry of goals from SC Delhi.
Late Goals Seal Victory
As the game drew to a close, SC Delhi continued to press their advantage. Rodriguinho, who has been noted as one of the tournament’s leading scorers with six goals, contributed significantly to his team’s attacking prowess. Juan Sebastian Pena added another goal in the 90+3 minute, further solidifying SC Delhi’s lead. The final goal of the match came from Augustine Lalrochana in the 90+8 minute, capping off a decisive 5-1 victory for SC Delhi.
FC Raengdai, despite their strong defensive unit led by Rojen Meetei, Lanchungrei Pamei, and Amitkumar Singh, were unable to contain SC Delhi’s second-half surge. Raengdai’s Khaidem Amarjit Singh also showed liveliness for the debutants during the end-to-end contest. FC Raengdai had been a surprise package in the 135th Durand Cup, topping Group D in their maiden campaign, with forward Midul Doley scoring three goals, including a hat-trick against TRAU FC.
SC Delhi had entered the quarter-finals unbeaten, topping Group C with three wins from three matches. Their disciplined performance against Raengdai showcased their determination to advance in the tournament. They will now prepare to face the winner of the second quarter-final match.
SC Delhi is scheduled to play their semi-final match on August 19. They will compete against the victor of the quarter-final clash between the Indian Army Football Team and East Bengal FC. This upcoming semi-final fixture will take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Source: newindianexpress.com
