The victory marked another impressive outing for the Airmen, while Defenders FC’s second consecutive defeat in their maiden Durand Cup campaign left the Sri Lankan outfit with an uphill task in the race for qualification.

Both teams lined up in an attacking 4-4-2 formation, but it was Indian Air Force FT that seized the initiative from the opening whistle. The Airmen dominated possession, moved the ball confidently through midfield and pinned Defenders FC deep inside their own half. Although a couple of early opportunities went begging, the pressure continued to mount as the visitors struggled to escape their defensive third.

The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute through the brilliance of Naorem Somananda Singh. A costly mistake from Defenders defender Sampath Kumara gifted possession to the in-form forward, who wasted no time in unleashing a thunderous right-footed strike from outside the penalty area. The spectacular effort flew into the back of the net, handing the Airmen a deserved lead and taking Naorem’s tally to three goals in the tournament.

Defenders FC found it difficult to create any meaningful attacking opportunities throughout the opening half. Forced into a compact defensive shape, the Sri Lankan side spent long periods chasing the ball and failed to register a single shot before the interval as Indian Air Force FT comfortably controlled proceedings.

The Airmen carried the same intensity into the second half, continuing to dictate the tempo and push for a second goal. Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute when a dangerous delivery into the penalty area caused confusion inside the Defenders box. In an attempt to clear the danger, defender K.D.S. Sankalpa inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net, doubling Indian Air Force FT’s advantage.

However, the contest sprang to life just two minutes later. Against the run of play, Defenders FC launched a swift counter-attack, with N.M. Aflal intercepting a long pass before racing clear of the defence. The forward kept his composure to slot past the goalkeeper, reducing the deficit and giving the visitors renewed hope.

The goal injected fresh energy into the contest as Defenders FC began committing more players forward in search of an equaliser. What had largely been a one-sided affair transformed into an entertaining end-to-end battle during the closing stages.

Indian Air Force FT nearly restored their two-goal cushion when a flowing attacking move found Naorem once again inside the penalty area. The striker looked destined to grab his second of the evening, only to see his fierce effort crash off the crossbar.

Despite the late pressure, the Airmen remained organised at the back and managed the closing minutes with composure to preserve their slender advantage. Their dominance was reflected in the match statistics, finishing with 66 per cent possession and 20 shots compared to Defenders FC’s three.

The victory strengthens Indian Air Force FT’s position in Group C and continues their positive momentum in the competition, with Naorem Somananda Singh once again proving to be the standout performer. For Defenders FC, there were encouraging signs in their late resurgence, but another defeat means they will need positive results in their remaining fixtures to keep their Durand Cup hopes alive.

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