Durand Cup: TRAU notch up first win against Army Red

Our Correspondent
Imphal, Aug 28. (EMN): Manipur’s Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) FC notched up their first win of the 131st Indian Oil Durand Cup, with a come from behind 2-1 over Army Red Football Team (ARFT), in a Group C clash at Khuman Lampak Main stadium on Sunday.

The Army Team looked the better in the first half and went into the break with a 1-0 lead, courtesy a Liton Shil strike. But goals from TRAU’s Boirangdao Bodo and L Milan in the final nine minutes of regulation time completed a fine comeback performance by TRAU in the second half.

The first opening for TRAU came when Khanngam got the ball at the edge of the 6-yard box but he failed to take good control of the ball and missed a brilliant opportunity.

ARFT finally made a breakthrough in the 35th minute of the game, thanks to a fantastic individual enterprise shown by their lone striker Liton Shil. Army Red finished the first half with a one-goal lead as well as the larger share of ball possession.

In the second-half, TRAU continued to attack with pace but lacked creativity. ARFT players, on the other hand, seemed contended to defend their one goal lead and were not creating much play as much as they did in the first half.

TRAU’s tireless running and forays finally got them the opening they were looking for in the 81st minute of the game.

Kamardeep’s attempted clearance of the ball from deep inside the ARFT defence struck a TRAU attacker which rebounded inside the box and the home-side forward, Boirangdao Bodo, powered a shot in between the legs of ARFT keeper Bhabindra Thakuri, who had not much to do till then in the game.

The lead came TRAU’s way in the 89th when a cross by Roshan Singh from the right flank saw a very casual and perhaps tired clearance from the ARFT defence. It only found a waiting L Milan who was brought in just six minutes before and he made no mistake to find the back of the net.

There was not much time for the ARFT to come back and the local crowd was ecstatic with their favourite side’s first win of the tournament.

The day’s result however makes it tougher for both teams to make it through the knockouts.

TRAU FC will take on Chennayin FC in their final group game on September 1 while Army Red will face Hyderabad FC on September 3.