East Bengal’s Lalchungnunga celebrates after scoring the opener against South United FC in the opening match of the Durand Cup in Kolkata on Wednesday..
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
Emami East Bengal asserted its superiority with a convincing 5-0 win over debutant South United FC in the opening Group-A match of the 134th edition of the Durand Cup football tournament at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Wednesday.
Defender Lalchungnunga opened the scoring early in the first half before Saul Crespo netted a penalty to make it 2-0.
Bipin Singh made a fine debut for East Bengal as he found the net within minutes after his introduction late in the second half. Dimitrios Diamantakos, also coming in as a substitute, scored from a free-kick to enhance East Bengal’s tally before Naorem Mahesh Singh provided the finishing touch with a nice long-ranger in the penultimate minute of the match.
Outplayed
It was a harrowing debut for South United as the Bengaluru-based team was unable to find its footing against the might of the ISL side East Bengal, which dominated the action with over 70% ball possession.
South United, whose best show so far has been playing in the I-League 2, had to rely on its local league recruits against a much-higher budget opponent which also fielded three foreigners.
The result: Group-A: Emami East Bengal 5 (Lalchungnunga 12, Crespo 37-pen, Bipin Singh 79, Diamantakos 86, Mahesh Singh 89) bt South United FC 0.
Published – July 23, 2025 08:09 pm IST