East Bengal vs Indian Air Force, Durand Cup 2025, AS IT HAPPENED: East Bengal FC stormed into the quarter-finals as group winners after thrashing Indian Air Force FT 6-1 in Kolkata. Hamid Ahadad (6') and Bipin Singh (25') put EB in control before Aman's header (35') gave IAFT brief hope.
After the break, Anwar Ali (63') and Mohammad Rashid (67') killed the contest, with late goals from Saul Crespo (85') and David (90+4') completing the rout. EB dominated from start to finish with 25 shots, 16 on target, and now head into the knockouts brimming with confidence.

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Full-Time! The suffering comes to an end! East Bengal emerge victorious by 6-1!! They pulled off 25 shots, 16 on target, 6 went in! East Bengal top the group as table-toppers!
GOOAAL! Another one finds the back of the net!! East Bengal net their 6th!!! It's David now!!
GOAAL!! East Bengal with a 5-star performance! They always looked hungry, even with a big lead and now the substitute, Saul Crespo slides it in to round off a memorable day and a thumping victory! But the game is not over yet, more goals can come along the way!
This should've been a goal! The goal was open right infront of them, but their urge to pass created confusion and the ball trickled out of play, while attempting to take a shot. Poor effort from EB.
It's all done and dusted here as East Bengal still strive forward to increase their lead.
It looked like in the beginning of the 2nd half that IAFT gonna do something special, juding by their confidence. But East Bengal responded well and completely blew them away in the 2nd half.
GOAAAL!! Mohammad Rashid gets his first goal for East Bengal! He picked up the pieces from 25 yards and smashed a bullet shot, which took a deflection along the way into the back of the net!!
GOAAAL!!! East Bengal finally get their goal!! Anwar Ali nets it in just seconds after he laid off to Hamid inside the box for a shot but his shot was blocked from point-blank range! Towering header from the Indian CB!
Bipin Singh once again in the thick of action!! He finds a shot inside the box but IAFT keeper Subhajit pulls off a brilliant save!
Almost a goal for East Bengal!!! Bipin Singh's cross was wonderfully met by Hamid Ahadad, but the Moroccan's header missed the goal by a whisker!!!
East Bengal once again keep up the pressure on IAFT. But the away side is exuding confidence in the 2nd half.
Edmund Lalrindika dribbling past everyone inside the box but only to hit it off target! EB once again start the half on a bright note.
We are back for the 2nd half! How many goals are you expecting in the final 45 minutes?
It's half-time! East Bengal have dominated the proceedings till now but IAFT's goal towards the end has brought some hope for the away side. But the Red & Gold Brigade still look the most likely side to score. Stay tuned as we bring the coverage of the 2nd half in 15 minutes!
Miguel's free-kick from the edge of the box went curling all the way, it looked like it will creep in but it swerved away from the framework!! The crowds' cheers explains everything.
Miguel finding space inside the box! He attempts a shot but IAFT keeper thwarts it away to safety.
Oh my! It's a wake-up call for East Bengal! IAFT's Aman met a juicy cross inside the box and he lept above everyone, unmarked and heads in a brilliant header past a helpless Gill! Game on!
East Bengal with another chance and the drop-header founds the target but the IAFT keeper was equal to it.
East Bengal once again in the thick of actions! Another opening inside the box and Miguel's shot just went off target! This is pure doination from the Kolkata giants!
GOAAAL!! Finally East Bengal's hardwork paid off! Bipin Singh, clear through on goal, took his time, rounded the keeper, got it into this right foot and doubles East Bengal's lead!
Brilliant link-up play from East Bengal! The Red & Gold Brigade swift made space in the attacking third and with quick movements, the ball fell to Edmund, who's attempted volley didn't get the right connection and went wide off target.
The kind of chances, East Bengal had they should've been up by 3-0 at least. But they are getting hungrier with every passing minute and surely when the chance come, hopefully they won't make a mistake.
East Bengal are now twisting and turning and making life difficult for Indian Air Force! Bipin Singh finding a blindside run, tried to get the ball into the back of the net from inside the box, but the IAFT defenders had it covered and cleared it out of harm's way.
East Bengal miss a sitter from a one-on-one opportunity! Hamid Ahadad was through on goal and his cheeky attempt to lob the keeper didn't find the required venom as it was expertly cleared away by IAFT. Hamid did manage to lob the keeper but lacked the power. Should've done better!
It was on expected lines that East Bengal will take the lead. The way they were pushing men forward and giving the IAFT defenders a tough outing, one can expect more goals to come.
GOAAL! East Bengal were knocking on the door and Ahadad after receving a brilliant cross from Edmund from the edge of the box, heads in the opening goal of the match!!
East Bengal almost scoring not just once but twice! They should've been 2-0 up by now! From Miguel's back-to-back corners, East Bengal's headed attempts were expertly thwarted away IAFT GK Subhajit.
We are underway at the Kishore Bharati Stadium! East Bengal get the ball running!
Just few minutes left for the match to start! Stay tuned to MyKhel as we bring you the live coverage all the way from Kishore Bharati!
East Bengal have shown a turnaround in form after a difficult start, losing three matches in a row from last season before bouncing back with two consecutive wins.
With qualification secured, head coach Oscar Bruzon is likely to use this tie to fine-tune his side's tactics and test the depth of his squad. Expect to see some fresh and younger faces on the pitch as the team experiments with combinations, assessing who can step up when the stakes are high. The match offers a low-risk environment for East Bengal to try new ideas while keeping their momentum intact.
The club made several notable additions to their roster before the tournament, and this game provides the ideal scenario to integrate those signings in competitive conditions. For Bruzon, it's less about the result and more about sharpening his team's readiness for the knockout battles, where the margin for error is minimal.
For Indian Air Force FT, the picture is quite different. Having been knocked out of the tournament, they enter this clash with nothing tangible to fight for - except pride. But for a side with armed forces discipline and spirit, that is often motivation enough to deliver a spirited performance. They announced themselves in style with a high-scoring opener against South United, a six-goal thriller that showcased both attacking flair and defensive vulnerability.
Unfortunately for IAFT, their defensive frailties persisted, costing them dearly in the second match against Namdhari and sealing their early exit. Still, with the pressure off, they might play with greater freedom, making them a potentially tricky opponent for East Bengal.
While the outcome won't affect the group standings, the contest promises intrigue - for East Bengal, a chance to polish their armour before the quarter-finals; for Indian Air Force FT, an opportunity to finish on a high and show they can challenge even the in-form favourites.