Durand Cup 2024: Mohammedan SC Fold Campaign With 1-0 Win Over Indian Navy

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Mohammedan SC secured its first victory of the Durand Cup 2024 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Indian Navy FT on August 13, ending their group stage in second place with four points at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday -- August 14.

The Kolkata-based side, however, is currently placed bottom among the six second-placed teams as all the five teams ahead of them have six pints at least, ending their chances of any progression to the knockout stages.

The match began with both teams struggling to make an impact in the final third, as much of the early play was confined to the midfield. Indian Navy, already eliminated from knockout contention after losses in their previous matches, looked determined to play spoiler.

However, it was Mohammedan who found the breakthrough in the 25th minute. A corner kick taken by Sujit Singh was initially cleared, but when the ball came back to him, he curled a brilliant left-footed shot into the top left corner, giving Mohammedan the lead with an Olympic goal.

Indian Navy responded well and came close to equalizing several times. Their best chance of the first half came when they sent a powerful header just over the crossbar from a corner in the 8th minute. As the first half drew to a close, Mohammedan went into the break with a narrow 1-0 lead, while the Sailors struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

The second half saw a more aggressive Indian Navy as they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. They came agonizingly close in the 70th minute when a long-range effort struck the crossbar, with the rebound being cleared by Mohammedan's defense. Despite these efforts, they were unable to break down a resolute Mohammedan defense.

Mohammedan, on the other hand, had a goal ruled out for offside in the 84th minute when Shiba found the back of the net, only for the linesman to raise his flag. The final minutes of the match saw the Kolkata side holding on to their slim lead, and despite some late pressure from the Navy, they managed to secure the win.

The victory places Mohammedan second in their group with four points, keeping their hopes alive for a place in the knockout stages. Indian Navy, despite a valiant effort, exits the tournament without a point.