Durand Cup: Bidyashagar's hat-trick helps Kerala Blasters thrash Indian Air Force 5-0; Indian Army enter quarters

Kolkata: Bidyashagar Singh struck a hat-trick to power Kerala Blasters to a dominant 5-0 win over Indian Air Force Football Team in their concluding Durand Cup clash in Kolkata on Monday. Mohammed Aimen initiated the scoring in the ninth minute with an impressive long-range strike. The 12th minute saw Singh swiftly double the lead, guided by Danish Farooq’s assist. Farooq then found the net himself in the 57th minute.

The spotlight remained on Singh as he achieved his hat-trick with goals in the 62nd and 82nd minute. It was an all-out dominance by Kerala Blasters, who ended with four points from three matches from Group C. With successive wins, Gokulam Kerala have advanced into the quarters from Group C with a match in hand. Indian Army enter quarters after goalless draw with Rajasthan Kokrajhar: Indian Army FT on Monday booked their place in the Durand Cup quarter-finals after they played out a goalless draw in their final Group F match against Rajasthan United FC in Kokrajhar on Monday. Indian Army qualified for the knockouts securing seven points from three matches, while Rajasthan United finished second with four points from three matches. Rajasthan started the match brightly and they nearly scored in the first minute itself. But there was no Rajasthan attacker to finish Zoma’s cross across the six-yard box. The Army side soon settled to the conditions with Deepak Singh troubling opposition with his pacey runs in the right wing. His accurate cross could not be converted by Rahul Ramakrsihnan as he blasted the shot above the crossbar. The second half was a cagey affair with both teams trying hard to break the deadlock. The Armymen defended deep knowing that a draw was enough for them to qualify for the quarter-finals. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, FC Goa, Northeast United FC, Chennaiyin FC and Indian Army FT complete the quarterfinal line-up.