East Bengal Edge Indian Army to Reach Durand Cup Semi-Finals

East Bengal defeated Indian Army Football Team 1-0 to book their place in the Durand Cup 2026 semi-finals, with PV Vishnu’s 37th-minute header proving decisive in Kolkata. The quarter-final remained in the balance until the final whistle as Indian Army pushed for an equaliser, but East Bengal held on to secure a narrow victory.

Vishnu rose above the Indian Army defence to meet a left-footed cross from Chris Ikonomidis and break the deadlock. It was the only goal of a match in which East Bengal created a series of opportunities but could not add to their advantage. The result sends East Bengal into a semi-final against SC Delhi, who had earlier beaten FC Raengdai 5-1.

Vishnu header separates the teams

East Bengal began on the front foot but were unable to convert an early opening. Dani Ramirez was played in from a cutback in the sixth minute, only to hit his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Indian Army responded with a dangerous effort from the left that tested East Bengal goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa, who tipped the ball over the crossbar.

Ramirez continued to be involved in East Bengal’s attacking moves. He won a free-kick on the edge of the area in the 12th minute, but his attempt found the side-netting. Seven minutes later, he set up David Hmar in the penalty area, though Hmar’s left-footed shot went wide.

East Bengal kept building pressure. Centre-back Lalchungnunga struck from long range in the 21st minute, forcing Indian Army goalkeeper Malla into a diving save. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 37th minute. Ikonomidis delivered from the left and Vishnu headed home after getting above the Indian Army defence.

East Bengal took their one-goal lead into half-time. Vishnu was replaced by Bipin Singh at the start of the second half, while East Bengal sought the second goal that would have put the contest beyond reach.

The chances continued after the interval. Mohammed Bassim Rashid sent a first-time strike over from outside the box in the 55th minute. Four minutes later, Jesin TK ran onto a lobbed through ball, rounded the goalkeeper and tried to finish from a narrow angle, but the effort was diverted onto the post.

Ramirez also had a clear chance in the 68th minute after Edmund found him in space in the box, but the midfielder sent his shot over the bar. The miss was notable in a game where East Bengal had registered 18 shots by that stage but still held only a 1-0 advantage.

Indian Army’s late push falls short

Indian Army remained a threat as the match moved into its final quarter. A corner delivered by Christo created a headed opportunity, but the effort went straight at Lachenpa. Another chance soon followed in the box, though the shot was fired wide.

In the 74th minute, a cross from left-back Sunil led to a collision between an Indian Army forward and Lachenpa. An acrobatic attempt on the rebound did not produce a goal, and the referee ruled the initial incident a foul on the East Bengal goalkeeper.

East Bengal had another opportunity to make the result safer in the 84th minute when Jesin broke down the left and cut the ball back from the byline. Rashid, however, could not convert the tap-in chance. Five minutes of added time gave Indian Army one final opportunity to force extra time.

That moment came in the second minute of stoppage time when an Indian Army forward went down after Lachenpa came off his line. The referee ruled it a dive and did not award a penalty. East Bengal saw out the remaining minutes to complete a hard-fought 1-0 win and advance to the last four.