Kolkata, Aug 6 (NationPress) East Bengal FC narrowly defeated a resilient Namdhari FC team 1-0 in a tightly contested Group A match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday, inching closer to securing a spot in the knockout rounds of the 134th Durand Cup.

This triumph, spearheaded by debutant Hamid Ahadad’s goal in the second half, marked the Kolkata powerhouse’s second consecutive victory, propelling them to the top of the group standings.

In his inaugural outing for the Red and Gold brigade, Moroccan forward Ahadad made a significant impact, scoring the crucial goal in the 68th minute after entering the match from the bench, finally overcoming a robust defense from Namdhari and a series of remarkable saves from goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Head coach Oscar Bruzon opted for a refreshed lineup after their initial success, introducing four changes including starting roles for Greek forward Dimitrios Diamantakos, Brazilian midfielder Miguel Figueira, and winger Bipin Singh. Meanwhile, Namdhari, missing suspended defender Manbir Singh, reinstated skipper Akashdeep Singh and striker Manish Chaudhary in a restructured squad.

From the onset, East Bengal dominated possession, relentlessly attacking the Namdhari goal. Niraj Kumar was tested early, making a brave save against Diamantakos in the ninth minute. He continued to thwart the home team’s attempts, stopping dangerous efforts from Bipin, Mohammed Rashid, Crespo, and Mahesh.

Miguel Figueira came agonizingly close to scoring, hitting the post twice and then forcing a header off the crossbar in the 42nd minute. Despite East Bengal’s offensive barrage, the combination of Namdhari’s strong defense and Niraj’s heroics kept the scoreline level at halftime.

Following the break, East Bengal maintained control, with Diamantakos and Figueira persistently probing the defense. Namdhari briefly threatened when Dharmpreet Singh fired wide from their only significant second-half chance.

The breakthrough came in the 68th minute. Just seven minutes after being substituted in, Hamid Ahadad seized on a corner from Figueira that was misjudged by Niraj, nodding it in at the far post, marking his debut with a memorable goal and giving East Bengal the lead they had diligently pursued.

This result places East Bengal at the forefront of Group A with six points and a +6 goal difference, while Namdhari—accumulating six points from three matches with a +3 goal difference—remains a contender for the quarterfinals as a potential best second-placed team.