Kolkata: East Bengal FC on Wednesday reached a step closer to secure a knockout in the 134th Durand Cup with a 1-0 win over Namdhari FC in a tough match of Group A in Vivekananda Yuva Bharti Kridangan. According to the press release, Hamid Ahadad, the forward of Morocco, making a decisive goal in the 68th minute, scored the second consecutive win in the tournament. East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzone made four changes in his lineup compared to the previous match, including goalkeeper Prabhasukhan Singh Gill, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figuira, and Greek striker Dimitrios Dyamantacos and Bipin Singh were included in the front line. Meanwhile, Namdhari’s Harpreet Singh made two necessary changes, captain Akashdeep Singh was included in Defense and Manish Chaudhary in the attack, as suspended defender Manbir Singh was not in the team.

The match began with immediate dominance in the namdhari half of East Bengal and constantly making opportunities, but the brilliant performance of Namdhari’s goalkeeper Neeraj Kumar repeatedly thwarted him. In the 9th minute, Neeraj prevented Diamatacos from his line rapidly and only a few minutes later, Bipin Singh stopped a dangerous ball of Singh that was for Sol Cresspo.

The bombardment continued, the 17th minute powerful goal of Mohammad Rashid scored another, before Miguel Figuira bowled the ballpost twice in a row, once from a long distance and once from the header, and Namdhari’s goal became an attractive goal.

In the 39th minute, Mahesh’s attempt on Mahesh’s Freakic was stopped by Neeraj again from the reflex, and then in the 42nd minute, Miguel hit the ball from the bullet header to the ball for the third time on the crossbar. Despite continuous pressure, Namdhari’s deep defensive block remained strong and the score was 0–0 until Halftime, the credit of Neeraj Kumar’s brilliant performance and a little good luck.

East Bengal started in the same manner in the second half, kept the ball captured and was looking for a breakthrough. In the 52nd minute, a weak shot of Diamentacos was saved, while Namdhari’s Dharmpreet Singh missed the only good opportunity in the initial match of the second half.

Feeling the need for a spark, Bruzon fielded Hamid Ahadad in the 61st minute instead of Dyamantacos. The Moroccan player had an immediate effect after seven minutes, when he got a ball without any mark on the post on Miguel Figuira’s corner. Neeraj could not guess the ball flight, and Ahadad easily broke the deadlock and opened his account for the club.

The East Bengal was looking for a second goal to end the match. In the 87th minute, Chunganunga directly targeted the goalkeeper, and in the injury time, the close efforts of both Ahadad and Anwar Ali were stopped in a crowded box.

Namdhari saw a ray of hope in the 84th minute, when Kamal’s free kick almost reached Dasilva, but the East Bengal goalkeeper Gill pushed him away in time, and the lineman indicated offside.

Despite Namdhari’s fiery defensive efforts and rare retaliation, he could not distinguish the backline of East Bengal led by Anwar Ali and Martand Raina and could not hit a single shot. As the last whistle rushed, the East Bengal’s brilliant lead and strategic discipline ensured three points.

With this win, East Bengal topped Group A with a goal difference of six points in two matches and +6, while Namdhari remains in the race to make it to the quarter -finals with two out of three win (six points and +3 goal differences). Two best teams, who finished second in the group stage, will make it to the quarter -finals. Torch bearrs will face the Indian Air Force FT on August 10, 2025 in their final group match.