Shillong Lajong Ends East Bengal’s Durand Cup Run

Sayak Banerjee / 22-08-2024

East Bengal’s Durand Cup campaign came to a disappointing end with a 2-1 defeat against Shillong Lajong in the quarterfinals. Playing at Shillong’s home ground, the Red and Gold brigade struggled to convert their chances and paid the price for defensive lapses.

Shillong Lajong opened the scoring in the 8th minute through Rudo, capitalizing on a defensive miscommunication. Despite dominating possession, East Bengal missed several opportunities, with Nandhakumar Sekar finally equalizing in the 78th minute. His goal carried a powerful message as he displayed a jersey reading “Respect Women.”

However, Shillong responded quickly, with Figo scoring the decisive goal in the 84th minute. East Bengal’s star-studded lineup, including Madi Talal and Dimitri Diamantakos, failed to rise to the occasion, marking a disappointing early exit.

This loss shifts East Bengal’s focus to the AFC Challenge League, where coach Carlos Cuadrat hopes to reignite the team’s form.