ITBP edge past ten men Karbi Anglong Morning Star in Group D opener

by Chittu Shetty July 27, 2025

Durand Cup debutants Indo Tibetan Border Police FT edged past ten men Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 2-1 in the Group D opener of the 134^th Indian Oil Durand Cup which was played here at the SAI Stadium.

Lunminlen Haokip gave the lead for Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC but goals from Pulung Diamary and Hemraj Bhujel gave the para military side the victory and three crucial points.

All 43 matches of the 134^th IndianOil Durand Cup will be broadcast LIVE on the Sony Sports Network (Sony Ten2 HD) as well as livestreamed on the SonyLiv OTT platform

Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC (KAMSFC) Head Coach C A Laldinsang Pudaite named a strong line up which included three foreigners in Joseph Olaleye, Victor Jackson and Ben Nash Quansh while ITBF FT Head Coach Surojit Kumar named a strong line up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Both debutant teams were trying to take control of the midfield which made an intriguing battle with both sides cancelling each other out in the centre of the field. KAMSFC, who play in I-League 3, were reduced to ten men in just the 23^rd minute when Ghanaian centre back Ben Nash Quansh received a direct red card for a reckless two-footed challenge. The referee has no choice but to send off the defender.

ITBP took control of possession using the man advantage but it was the side from Assam who drew first blood. Lunminlen Haokip neatly finished a counter attacking move to give his side the lead in the 30^th minute. The striker could have doubled the lead minutes later when he pounced on a mistake by the ITBP goalkeeper Ugesh Lama. The goalkeeper could not gather a cross cleanly and Lunminlen who was lurking around pounced but could not put the finishing touches.

ITBP equalised in the final minute of first half regulation time through Pulung Daimary, whose neat side footed finish found the bottom right corner after taking a deflection of the defender.

KAMSFC were brave with their attacking plays, without fearing about the man disadvantage with Joseph Olaleye creating the most trouble, but there weren’t any clear cut chances that troubled the ITBP goalkeeper. ITBP scored the second goal in the 60^th minute with a neat team move. Srikumar Karjee received a long diagonal pass in the right wing and the winger fended off two defenders and drilled a low cross into the box which was expertly finished by Hemraj Bhujel past the diving goalkeeper Gojen Hanse.

The Assam side could not create any meaningful chances even after having the ball inside the opposition’s half as the man disadvantage made it difficult to have more people inside the box. The best chance to equalise came deep into stoppage time but ITBP goalkeeper punched a header by Lunminlen which was heading into the goal. ITBP maintained the slender advantage until the final whistle and secured three crucial points in the group.

Durand Cup action will shift to Kolkata tomorrow, as Kolkata giants Mohammedan SC will take on another Kolkata side Diamond Harbour FC in an enthralling Group B fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

– Credits Durand Media

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