-by Pratyusha Mukherjee
The knockout stage of the 135th Durand Cup gets under way on Sunday with two quarter-finals offering contrasting contests in Ranchi and Kolkata. SC Delhi will take on debutants FC Raengdai in the opening quarter-final at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium, before the Indian Army Football Team faces East Bengal FC in the second quarter-final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The opening quarter-final will kick off at 16:00 IST, followed by the second at 19:00 IST.
SC Delhi enter the last eight with a flawless record, having won all three of their Group C fixtures to finish top with nine points. The Delhi-based side began with a 2-1 comeback win over Jamshedpur FC, before adding victories against Sri Lankan Armed Forces side Defenders FC and Indian Air Force FT. Their consistency has marked them out as one of the strongest sides of the group stage. At the same time, the added advantage of having played all three matches at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium gives them valuable familiarity with Sunday’s venue.
Brazilian forward Rodriguinho has been among the standout performers for SC Delhi, scoring six times in the tournament. The 25-year-old, whose full name is Rodrigo Araújo da Silva Filho, joined the club ahead of the tournament and can operate as a second striker or from the right flank. His pace, movement and finishing have added another dimension to an attack that will now face a Raengdai side that has already demonstrated their ability to compete against established opposition.
Head coach Tomasz Tchórz has made clear that SC Delhi’s ambitions extend beyond simply reaching the last four. “Our objective is to win this competition, and to be able to do that, we have to win tomorrow as well,” he said. “The only thing we have in mind is victory.” That mentality will be tested by a Raengdai side that has brought considerable energy and aggression to its debut campaign.
FC Raengdai have been one of the stories of the 135th edition, reaching the quarter-finals in their first-ever Durand Cup campaign. The Manipur-based club finished Group D winners with six points from three matches, opening with a 1-0 victory over Indian Navy FT and following it with a thrilling 4-3 win over Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU FC). They lost 1-3 to NEROCA FC in their final group fixture, but had already secured the top spot.
Forward Midul Doley has played a central role in Raengdai’s run, scoring a hat-trick against TRAU FC and finishing the group stage with three goals. His performances earned him the Emerging Player award from the Imphal Group, along with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh from the Durand Football Tournament Society. Raengdai’s progress is particularly notable given their rapid rise through the domestic pyramid, having finished runners-up in I-League 3 last season before earning promotion to I-League 2.
Tchórz expects Raengdai’s youthful energy to pose a different challenge to what SC Delhi encountered in the group stage. “They are very aggressive, with a high level of energy, and we have to be careful,” he said. “We have to find a way to stop them, control the game, and play at our own rhythm.” Raengdai assistant coach Thoudam Joychandra Singh, however, believes the quarter-final is an opportunity for the debutants to establish their identity against high-level opposition. “We respect every opponent, but we concentrate on how we want to play and what we want to achieve as a team,” he said.
The opening quarter-final therefore pits SC Delhi’s unbeaten momentum and greater experience against the confidence, energy and fearless approach of a debutant side determined to extend its remarkable campaign.
The second quarter-final brings together another group winner and a side that qualified as one of the two best runners-up. Indian Army FT topped Group B with a perfect nine points, beating debutants Samaleswari Sporting 1-0, Baghpat FC 4-0 and Mohammedan SC 2-1. Their three victories demonstrated both consistency and an ability to adapt to different styles of opposition.
P. Christopher Kamei has emerged as a key player for the Army side, with his set-piece delivery providing a significant attacking weapon. Against East Bengal, his ability to create danger from free-kicks, combined with the Army’s physical presence inside the box, could be particularly important if opportunities from open play are limited.
Indian Army have also displayed a fearless approach throughout the tournament. Their defensive organisation has been matched by a willingness to attack when opportunities arise, giving them a balanced identity rather than relying solely on a deep defensive block. Head coach Antony Ramesh expects that discipline to be crucial against East Bengal. “East Bengal is a very strong and experienced side with quality players. We respect them, but we don’t fear them,” he said. “We have to stay organised, compact and focused.”
East Bengal, meanwhile, finished second in Group A behind Mohun Bagan Super Giant and advanced as one of the two best second-placed sides. They began with a 0-1 defeat to their city rivals, but responded emphatically with an 8-0 victory over CISF Protectors before completing the group stage with a 5-0 win over South United FC.
Antonio López Habas’ side will also arrive with confidence high after a 4-1 victory over Al Arabi in their AFC Champions League Two qualifying play-off, a result that secured their place in the competition’s league stage. The result adds further momentum to an East Bengal side already carrying considerable attacking confidence.
Habas’ approach brings a balance between defensive organisation and attacking fluidity, with East Bengal capable of controlling games through midfield while maintaining several routes towards goal. Mohammed Rashid and Anwar Ali have been among the influential figures, with Rashid’s control in midfield and Anwar’s authority at the back likely to be important against a disciplined Army side. Dani Ramírez also offers creativity between the lines and can help East Bengal unlock a compact defensive structure.
The Kolkata setting adds another dimension, with East Bengal enjoying familiar surroundings and strong support. Indian Army, however, have already shown they will not be overawed by established opposition. For Ramesh, the quarter-final is another opportunity for his side to demonstrate the character that has carried them through the group stage, with the Army coach stressing the importance of “Army spirit, character and fighting mentality”.
The two quarter-finals offer different tactical challenges: SC Delhi will look to impose the intensity and attacking precision that carried them through Group C against an ambitious Raengdai side, while Indian Army will seek to make their organisation and set-piece threat count against an East Bengal team combining attacking fluency with greater big-match experience.
With semi-final places at stake, both fixtures promise compelling contests as the 135th Durand Cup enters its decisive phase.
