Salgaocar take on Pune FC in the Durand Cup final

Margao: An interesting tussle is on the cards when two-time champions Salgaocar FC take on Pune FC in the finals of the 127th Durand Cup on Saturday at Raia Panchayat ground here.

Both the teams qualified into the semi-finals with a win and a draw. In the semi-finals, Salgaocar survived some anxious moments against Bengaluru FC before edging them out via tie-breaker(5-4).

For Salgaocar, goalkeeper Karanjit Singh proved to be a thorn in the rival flesh as he brought off good saves in the regulation and extra times before denying Sunil Chhetri in the penalty shootout to help them enter the finals.

Salgaocar coach Derrick Perreira said the team has been executing its plans well so far.

"We are delighted to have overcome Bengaluru FC in a very tightly contest semi-final and the boys are geared up and looking forward to the final tomorrow. We know we are now just one step away from winning this prestigious tournament on home soil," he said.

"We have worked extremely hard since the start of the season and it's about executing everything we've practised on the training ground on the day. For a lot of the boys, it is their first ever Durand Cup final and I really want them to enjoy the occasion," he added.

Pune FC coach Karim Bencharifa also hailed his boys for the good performance so far in the tournament and hoped they continue to do the same tomorrow and win the cup for the first time.

"We have a young side and that has been our strength.

Tomorrow is a new game and it will be an interesting game as Salgaocar will have the home advantage and we will try our best to win against them," summed up Bencharifa.