Durand Cup 2025: Indian Army FT top Group B with 2-1 stoppage-time win over Mohammedan SC
Synopsis
Indian Army FT needed just a point to go through — they went and took all three. Shafeel P.P.'s stoppage-time thunderbolt completed a stunning comeback against Mohammedan SC, sending the Services side into the Durand Cup quarterfinals with a flawless nine-point group campaign and leaving one of Kolkata football's most iconic clubs on the outside looking in.
Key Takeaways
Indian Army FT defeated Mohammedan SC 2-1 in the 135th Durand Cup Group B decider at Kishore Bharati Krirangan , Kolkata, on 12 August .
Shafeel P.P. scored the stoppage-time winner; P.
Christopher Kamei had equalised in the 59th minute .
Lalthankima opened the scoring for Mohammedan SC with a stunning right-footed strike in the 34th minute .
Indian Army FT top Group B with a perfect 9 points from three matches and advance to the quarterfinals.
Mohammedan SC are eliminated after finishing with 1 win and 2 defeats .
Indian Army Football Team secured their place in the 135th Durand Cup quarterfinals with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club in the final Group B fixture at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on Wednesday, 12 August. A stoppage-time thunderbolt from Shafeel P.P. sealed the win after P. Christopher Kamei had levelled the scores, sending the Services side through as group winners with a perfect nine points from three matches.
How the Match Unfolded
Mohammedan SC started the brighter of the two sides, pressing for the victory they needed to stay in the tournament. Lalthankima was the chief tormentor in the opening half — his cross struck the upright via F. Lalremsanga, and Army goalkeeper and captain Bhabindra Malla Thakuri was called upon to make a sharp save from a long-range Lalthankima effort.
The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute and was worth the wait. Lalthankima drifted infield from the left flank with dazzling footwork and unleashed a magnificent right-footed strike into the top-left corner, leaving Thakuri with no chance. Mohammedan carried a 1-0 lead into the interval.
Army's Second-Half Comeback
Indian Army emerged after the restart with greater urgency, but Mohammedan's defensive unit, marshalled by Arpit Chhetri, continued to frustrate the Services side. The equaliser arrived in the 59th minute through a slice of fortune — Kamei's powerful long-range strike deflected off defender Pukhrambam Dinesh Meitei, clipped the post, and rolled into the net beyond goalkeeper Shubhadip Pandit.
With momentum shifting, Pawar Abhishek Shankar nearly completed the turnaround but was denied by a brilliant combination from Rahul Naskar and Pandit. Mohammedan remained dangerous on the counter — substitute Maharabam Maxion raced clear in the 81st minute, only for Thakuri to charge off his line bravely and avert the threat.
Shafeel's Stoppage-Time Winner
The decisive moment came in the first minute of stoppage time. Shafeel P.P. stepped up and unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that took the slightest deflection before nestling into the net, sparking jubilant celebrations among the Army players and their supporters. It was a fitting end to a fiercely contested encounter.
Group B Final Standings and What It Means
Indian Army FT finish Group B with three wins from three matches and a perfect nine points, qualifying for the quarterfinals as group winners. Mohammedan SC, one of Kolkata's most storied clubs, bow out of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup after managing just one win from three outings. The result underlines the Services teams' growing competitiveness in India's oldest football tournament — Army had needed only a point going into this fixture but claimed all three with a fighting display.
The Durand Cup continues on Thursday, 13 August, with three fixtures across Ranchi, Guwahati, and Shillong.
Point of View
Nine points, zero dropped — is a reminder that Services football is no longer a sentimental subplot in the Durand Cup. They came into this fixture needing only a draw and still found the resolve to win it in stoppage time, which speaks to squad depth and tactical composure. Mohammedan SC's exit is a blow for Kolkata's footballing pride: the Black and White Brigade had the better of the first half and were undone partly by a deflected goal and partly by the kind of individual brilliance that tight knockout football demands. The broader question for the Durand Cup is whether the Services sides' structural advantages — full-time training, stable rosters, no relegation pressure — are tilting the competition's competitive balance in ways that deserve a closer look.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Durand Cup Group B match between Indian Army FT and Mohammedan SC?
Indian Army Football Team won 2-1 against Mohammedan Sporting Club in the Group B decider of the 135th Durand Cup on 12 August in Kolkata. A stoppage-time strike from Shafeel P.P. sealed the comeback victory.
Who scored the goals in Indian Army FT vs Mohammedan SC?
Lalthankima scored for Mohammedan SC in the 34th minute. P. Christopher Kamei equalised for Indian Army FT in the 59th minute, and Shafeel P.P. scored the winner in the first minute of stoppage time.
Did Indian Army FT qualify for the Durand Cup quarterfinals?
Yes. Indian Army FT topped Group B with nine points from three wins and secured their place in the quarterfinals of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup.
Why are Mohammedan SC out of the Durand Cup?
Mohammedan SC were eliminated after finishing Group B with one win and two defeats. They needed to beat Indian Army FT in the final group match to advance, but lost 2-1 to a stoppage-time goal.
Where was the Indian Army FT vs Mohammedan SC Durand Cup match played?
The match was played at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 12 August, the final Group B fixture of the 135th Durand Cup.
