The Indian Super League outfit wasted no time stamping their authority on the contest. Just four minutes into the game, Mohammed Sanan burst down the left flank before delivering a teasing cross into the box. Fernandes timed his run to perfection and powered a header beyond the goalkeeper, giving Jamshedpur the perfect start.

Only two minutes later, the midfielder doubled both his tally and his side’s advantage. Lalhriatpuia’s dangerous delivery caused confusion inside the Defenders penalty area, and after the goalkeeper failed to clear convincingly, Fernandes pounced on the loose ball before firing an unstoppable strike into the net to make it 2-0 inside six minutes.

With confidence flowing, Jamshedpur continued to dominate possession and dictate the tempo of the game. Their relentless attacking approach paid off again in the 23rd minute when Aman C.K. latched onto a perfectly weighted long ball, raced clear of the defence and calmly chipped the advancing goalkeeper to extend the lead.

The Red Miners added a fourth before half-time through Devendra Dhaku Murgaokar in an unusual sequence. Aman C.K.’s low cross found Murgaokar inside the area, and although his initial attempt ricocheted off his body, the looping effort wrong-footed the goalkeeper before slowly rolling into the back of the net. Jamshedpur headed into the interval with a deserved 4-0 advantage after completely controlling the opening 45 minutes.

Defenders FC looked more organised after the restart and showed greater defensive resilience, limiting the hosts to fewer clear-cut opportunities while enjoying more possession than they had in the first half. However, they struggled to trouble the Jamshedpur backline, with captain Pronay Halder and his defence comfortably dealing with the visitors’ attacking moves.

Jamshedpur eventually added a fifth goal eight minutes from time. Substitute Lawmsangzuala forced the goalkeeper into a save with a powerful effort, but the rebound fell kindly for Fernandes, who reacted quickest to slot home from close range and complete a memorable hat-trick on his competitive debut for the club.

Apart from Fernandes’ clinical finishing, Mohammed Sanan and Aman C.K. were instrumental throughout the contest, constantly stretching the opposition defence with their pace and movement. In midfield, Jamshedpur controlled proceedings from start to finish, allowing Kaizad Ambapardiwalla’s side to dictate possession and create chances with ease.

The comprehensive victory gives Jamshedpur FC an ideal start to their Group C campaign while sending out an early statement to the rest of the competition. With several new signings making an immediate impact and youngsters seamlessly blending into the squad, the Men of Steel will head into their upcoming fixtures full of confidence as they continue their pursuit of the prestigious Durand Cup title.

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC will be up against at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The clash between the tournament’s two most successful clubs—17-time champions Mohun Bagan and 16-time winners East Bengal—will launch a month-long football festival that concludes with the final on August 23.

The Durand Cup Organising Committee today unveiled the complete fixture list for the 135th edition, which will feature 24 teams divided into six groups and staged across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati. Bringing together Indian Super League clubs, Services teams, emerging football institutions, regional champions and international participants, the tournament continues to showcase the diversity and growing reach of Indian football.

Fans across the country will be able to watch every match live on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app.

Kolkata once again takes centre stage as the principal host, welcoming Groups A and B along with two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. Group A features Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, South United FC and CISF Protectors. After the blockbuster opening derby on July 25, the group will conclude on August 10 with Mohun Bagan Super Giant taking on CISF Protectors.

Group B presents an intriguing mix of tradition and fresh talent, with Mohammedan SC joined by Indian Army FT and tournament debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting. The group opens on July 26 with Indian Army FT facing Samaleswari Sporting before wrapping up on August 12 with Mohammedan SC meeting Indian Army FT.

A major milestone for this year’s tournament is Ranchi’s debut as a Durand Cup host. The Birsa Munda Football Stadium will stage all Group C fixtures featuring Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT and Sri Lanka’s Defenders FC, who will also be making their first appearance in the competition. The Ranchi leg begins on July 26 with Jamshedpur FC taking on Defenders FC and concludes on August 13 when Jamshedpur FC face Indian Air Force FT.

Imphal hosts Group D, where local rivals TRAU FC and NEROCA FC headline a strong regional line-up alongside FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. The competition in Manipur begins with a highly anticipated TRAU-NEROCA derby on July 28 and ends on August 12 with NEROCA FC facing FC Raengdai.

Shillong’s footballing culture will be on full display in Group E, which features three Meghalaya clubs competing on home turf. Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC and Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh SS&CC will be joined by Durand Cup newcomers Mumbay FC from Maharashtra. The Shillong leg kicks off on July 31 with Shillong Lajong FC taking on Nongkseh SS&CC, while the eagerly awaited Shillong derby between Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC will bring the group stage to a close on August 13.

Defending champions NorthEast United FC headline Group F in Guwahati as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive Durand Cup title. They are joined by Bodoland FC, FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, highlighting the continued rise of football across the Northeast. The Guwahati leg opens on August 1 with NorthEast United FC facing Bodoland FC before concluding on August 13.

Following the group stage, the six group winners and the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals will be played on August 16 and 17 across Ranchi, Kolkata and Shillong. Kolkata will host the first semi-final on August 19, while Shillong stages the second on August 20. The tournament reaches its climax with the grand final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.

With the fixtures now confirmed, the countdown has officially begun for another memorable edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament. From historic rivalries and regional derbies to emerging clubs seeking national recognition, the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup promises four weeks of compelling football and unforgettable moments as teams battle for one of Indian football’s most coveted honours.

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