Army Red, Pune FC register victories in Durand Cup

New Delhi: The Army Red dominated the proceedings right from the onset as they defeated MEG Bangalore 3-0 in a group league match of the 123rd Durand Cup Football tournament being held here.

In the group I quarterfinal league match, the Army Red were simply the better side on the day but didn’t utilise the scoring opportunities that came their way. At the break, the winners led by a solitary goal, courtesy a suicidal effort by Bangalore defender Vineet who put the ball in his own goal. The match was into its 17th minute then. The Army side upped the ante in the second session but it was only after 75 minutes that Army side suddenly scored twice in a space of two minutes to clinch the issue in their favour. It was star striker S Tuboi, who found the back of the net in the 76th minute to make it 2-0. Before the Bangalore outfit could realise Gordan Zoram Channa made it 3-0 in the 77th minute. If Army side had a field day, Pune FC spoilt the day for the other defence outfit Indian Air Force beating them 2-0 in a quarterfinal league match for Group II.Pune FC, who made their I-League debut last season scored both the goals in the second half. They broke the deadlock in the 47th minute when speedy winger Paresh Shivalkar put his team ahead. Brazilian Edmar Figueira increased the tally in the 74th minute. Tomorrow, Federation Cup champions and one of the tournament favourites East Bengal will open their campaign against Air India while JCT will take on Sporting Clube de Goa in the first match of the day. PTI