FC1 Stage Comeback to Mark Durand Cup Debut with Victory Over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC

by Chandler D'silva August 4, 2026

FC1 enjoyed a dream start to life in the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, coming from behind to defeat Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 2-1 in a thrilling Group F encounter at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Monday. Despite playing the final half hour with ten men, the side representing Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh held their nerve to secure all three points in their maiden appearance in the prestigious competition.

Both teams approached the contest with attacking intent, making for an entertaining start. FC1 created the first meaningful opportunity when Mousa Ahmed Qureshi unleashed a powerful long-range effort that forced Karbi Anglong goalkeeper Jaspreet Singh into an excellent save. At the other end, Joseph Mayowa Olaleye tested FC1’s defence with a strike from a difficult angle, but the effort failed to trouble goalkeeper Aftab Ashraf.

The opening exchanges remained evenly contested, with both sides looking to attack at every opportunity. Karbi Anglong’s left winger Lalpekhlua proved to be a constant threat down the flank, and his influence paid dividends midway through the first half. After FC1 failed to clear a corner, Lalpekhlua reacted quickly to send a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box, where Joseph Mayowa Olaleye arrived unmarked to tap home and give the Assam-based side a deserved lead.

FC1 responded positively after falling behind, enjoying greater control in midfield and using quick forward passes to exploit the spaces behind the Karbi Anglong defence. Their persistence was rewarded five minutes before the break when Farhan Fayaz delivered a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Hayat Bashir. The winger raced clear before squaring the ball across goal for Shakir Ahmad Sheikh, who arrived at the right moment to calmly slot home the equaliser and send the teams into halftime level at 1-1.

The visitors carried that momentum into the second half and completed the turnaround in the 53rd minute. This time, Shakir turned provider, floating an inviting cross into the penalty area where Hayat Bashir timed his run perfectly before powering a header beyond Jaspreet Singh to put FC1 in front for the first time in the contest.

The match took another dramatic turn just after the hour mark when FC1 were reduced to ten men. Defender Tetty Armando Yoko received a straight red card after an aerial challenge with Lalpekhlua, leaving the debutants to defend their slender advantage with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the match.

Karbi Anglong Morning Star pushed forward in search of an equaliser, committing more players into attack and attempting to make their extra man count. However, FC1 displayed tremendous discipline and resilience, defending as a unit and limiting the hosts to very few clear-cut opportunities during the closing stages.

Despite the late pressure, FC1 held firm to secure a memorable comeback victory on their Durand Cup debut. The result marks a historic first win for the club in the competition and provides the perfect foundation for their Group F campaign. For Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, it was a disappointing outcome after taking the lead, but there were encouraging signs in their attacking display as they now turn their attention to their remaining group-stage fixtures.

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