124th Durand Cup: Lajong & Prayag Utd reach semifinals

The first couple of teams have qualified for the semifinals of the 124th edition of the Durand Cup, India's oldest football tournament. They are defending champions Prayag United SC and Shillong Lajong FC who have won their respective Groups 1 and 2.

In their final Group match Prayag United SC overcame I-League champions and Federation Cup winners Salgaocar SC 2-0 through goals from their Ghanian striker Yakubu Yusif and winger Gouranga Biswas. Within a short span of time in the second session the Kolkata side sealed the game in their favour. Prayag United needed only a draw to progress as their had beaten qualifiers Border Security Force 2-0, while the Goans had only beaten BSF by a lone goal; but with six points from two matches they convincingly won their group.

In Group 2 a new derby saw the day of light as I-League promoted Shillong Lajong FC took on 2nd Division side United Sikkim FC, the first Northeastern derby between the to sides. United Sikkim only needed a draw to advance from the group as they had beaten Indian Air Force 3-0, while Lajong had only won 2-1. But it was the side from Shillong which would go on to win the group with a 3-1 victory. Lajong would go into the break with a 2-1 lead through first half goals from Iyikwobe Christopher Chizoba and James Giblee for Lajong with Sushil Kumar Singh reducing the deficit for USFC, but Iyikwobe Christopher Chizoba's second goal of the day sealed the game in Lajong's favour. Both sides ended the game with 10 men as early on USFC keeper Basanta Singh was send off for a foul outside the box and SLFC midfielder Lalramluaha met the same fate late in the game.

Both sides now await their opponents in the semifinals to the played on October 12 and 13.


STATS from GROUPS 1 & 2

Quarterfinal League

Group 1
Prayag United SC, Salgaocar SC, Border Security Force (Qualifier A)

04-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Border Security Force
07-Oct-2011: Salgaocar SC 1-0 Border Security Force
09-Oct-2011: Prayag United SC 2-0 Salgaocar SC

Group 2
Shillong Lajong FC, Sikkim United FC, Indian Air Force (Qualifier B)

04-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 2-1 Indian Air Force
07-Oct-2011: Sikkim United FC 3-0 Indian Air Force
09-Oct-2011: Shillong Lajong FC 3-1 Sikkim United FC