135th Durand Cup: Nongkseh face Shillong Lajong in opening Shillong clash

Shillong, July 3: The fixtures and venues for the 135th edition of the Durand Cup were announced on Friday following the unveiling of the 24 participating teams earlier this week, with Shillong set to host six Group E matches, a quarter-final and a semi-final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Group E comprises Shillong Lajong FC, Nongkseh SS&CC, Langsning FC and Mumbay FC. While Shillong Lajong return to the prestigious tournament, the other three clubs will be making their Durand Cup debut.

The Shillong leg will get underway with an all-Meghalaya clash as Shillong Lajong FC take on Nongkseh SS&CC on July 31 at 5 pm. The two local rivals are joined in Group E by Langsning FC and Mumbay FC, with all six group-stage matches scheduled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium between July 31 and August 13.

Langsning FC will open their campaign against Mumbay FC on August 3 at 7 pm before another all-Meghalaya encounter sees Nongkseh SS&CC face Langsning FC on August 6. Shillong Lajong FC will then take on Mumbay FC on August 8, while Nongkseh SS&CC will wrap up their group-stage campaign against Mumbay FC on August 11. The final Group E fixture on August 13 will see Shillong Lajong FC face Langsning FC.

Despite the tournament featuring six groups but eight quarter-final spots, the organisers have clarified that the six group winners along with the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the knockout stage.

The quarter-finals will begin on August 16 with matches in Ranchi and Kolkata, followed by the remaining two quarter-finals in Kolkata and Shillong on August 17. Kolkata will host the first semi-final on August 19, while Shillong will stage the second semi-final on August 20. The final will be played in Kolkata on August 23.

The 135th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament will kick off on July 25 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata with a blockbuster opening match between record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and 16-time winners East Bengal FC.

This year’s tournament will be held across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati.

Group A features Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, South United FC and CISF Protectors. The group stage begins on July 25 and concludes on August 10 with Mohun Bagan Super Giant taking on CISF Protectors.

Group B comprises Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT and Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting. The group opens on July 26 with Indian Army FT facing Samaleswari Sporting and concludes on August 12 with Mohammedan SC taking on Indian Army FT.

Group C features Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT and Sri Lankan Armed Forces side Defenders FC, who will also be making their Durand Cup debut. All Group C matches will be played at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi, which debuts as a host venue for the tournament. The Ranchi leg begins on July 26 with Jamshedpur FC taking on Defenders FC and concludes on August 13 with Jamshedpur FC facing Indian Air Force FT.

Group D will feature TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. The Imphal leg begins on July 28 with a Manipur derby between TRAU FC and NEROCA FC and concludes on August 12 with another all-Manipur clash between NEROCA FC and FC Raengdai.

Neighbouring Assam will host the Group F matches in Guwahati, where defending champions NorthEast United FC will bid for a third consecutive Durand Cup title. They are joined by Bodoland FC, FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC. The Guwahati leg begins on August 1 with NorthEast United FC taking on Bodoland FC and concludes on August 13 with Bodoland FC facing Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.

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