Durand Cup Clash between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal Abandoned; NorthEast United Advances

The eagerly awaited Durand Cup match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC was abandoned. The refund process will start on August 19. Separately, NorthEast United defeated Odisha FC 5-1, securing their place in the knockouts.

The eagerly anticipated Group A match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC in the Durand Cup has been abandoned. The game was slated for August 18, 2024, at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Durand Cup Organizing Committee confirmed the cancellation. 'On behalf of the Durand Cup Organizing Committee, we regret to inform you that the final Group A fixture between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC, scheduled for August 18, 2024, at 7:00 PM, stands abandoned,' the statement read. The announcement came as Mohun Bagan topped Group A with 6 points and a goal difference of 7, while East Bengal also had 6 points but a lower goal difference of 4.

Fans who purchased tickets can start the refund process on August 19, 2024, by bringing their tickets to the respective box offices. Meanwhile, on Friday, NorthEast United stormed past Odisha FC with a 5-1 victory at the SAI Stadium, securing their place in the knockouts from Group E.

Jithin MS scored twice, and Guillermo Fernandez and Thoi Singh added to the tally, alongside an own goal from Odisha's Tankadhar Bag. Paogoumang Singson netted the only goal for Odisha. NorthEast United finished atop Group E with 9 points from three matches, while Odisha FC ended their campaign with 3 points.

Juan Pedro Benali fielded a strong lineup, and goalkeeper Mirshad M.K made his debut appearance. Jithin MS quickly scored twice to give NorthEast an early lead. Despite Odisha's better possession, they couldn't create clear-cut chances to challenge NorthEast's defense. Thoi Singh and Guillermo Fernandez added to NorthEast's tally, with Tankadhar Bag scoring an own goal and Paogoumang Singson netting a consolation goal for Odisha.

(With inputs from agencies.)