Sporting Club Delhi defeated FC Raengdai 5-1 on Sunday to advance to the semi-finals of the 135th Durand Cup [1, 2, 3].
The victory marks a significant turnaround for SC Delhi, which overcame a first-half deficit to eliminate the Manipur-based debutant club. The result sets up a high-stakes semi-final clash against East Bengal.
FC Raengdai took an early lead when Chongtham Kishan Singh scored in the ninth minute [3]. However, SC Delhi staged a second-half comeback to dominate the remainder of the match. Joseph Sunny led the offensive effort for SC Delhi, scoring two goals [1].
Reports on the match venue differ between sources, with the game cited as taking place at either the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata or in Ranchi [3, 4]. Despite the discrepancy, the result confirms SC Delhi's progression in the tournament.
SC Delhi will face East Bengal in the semi-final on Wednesday [3]. The match is scheduled to be played at the same venue as the quarter-final [3].
East Bengal earned their place in the semi-finals after edging out Indian Army FT with a 1-0 victory in their respective quarter-final match [3]. The upcoming matchup between SC Delhi and East Bengal will determine which team moves forward to the final of the historic competition.
“SC Delhi staged a second-half comeback to defeat FC Raengdai 5-1”
The 135th Durand Cup continues to showcase the gap between established sides and debutants, as seen in FC Raengdai's early lead collapsing under SC Delhi's pressure. The semi-final matchup between SC Delhi and East Bengal pits a momentum-driven comeback team against a side that has shown defensive discipline, as evidenced by East Bengal's narrow 1-0 win over Indian Army FT.
