Durand Cup 2025: Indian Navy FT beat NEROCA FC 2-0 in Group D clash
Synopsis
Indian Navy FT bounced back from their opening-game defeat to beat NEROCA FC 2-0 in Imphal, with Roshan Panna's composed finish and Muhammed Inayath's looping cross-turned-goal doing the damage. The Sailors now sit second in Group D — and NEROCA are running out of room at the bottom.
Key Takeaways
Indian Navy FT defeated NEROCA FC 2-0 in a Group D fixture of the 135th Durand Cup on 5 August at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal .
Roshan Panna opened the scoring in the first half with a composed finish after a chipped assist from Vijay Marandi .
Muhammed Inayath sealed the win just after the 60th minute with a cross that looped into the far corner.
Indian Navy FT move to 3 points from 2 matches and rise to second place in Group D.
NEROCA FC remain bottom of the group with 1 point from 2 games.
Indian Navy FT delivered a composed and clinical performance to defeat NEROCA FC 2-0 in a Group D fixture of the 135th Durand Cup at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal on Wednesday, 5 August. The result marked the Sailors' first win of the tournament after a defeat in their opener, lifting them to second place in the group standings.
Key Goals and Scorers
Roshan Panna broke the deadlock midway through the first half with a composed finish. Vijay Marandi produced an incisive chipped pass over the NEROCA defence to release the young forward, who rounded goalkeeper Penand Singh before slotting into an empty net. E. Muhammed Inayath doubled the advantage just after the 60th minute through a moment of individual brilliance — gliding past two defenders, reaching the byline, and delivering a cross that looped over the retreating goalkeeper and nestled into the far bottom corner.
How the Match Unfolded
The opening exchanges were tightly contested, with both sides pressing aggressively in midfield and limiting clear-cut chances. NEROCA FC came close around the 20th minute when Modou Mbengue, the Senegalese forward, drove into the penalty area after combining with Ngathem Imarson Meitei, but his cross for David Singh was overhit. Mbengue also tested Bhaskar Roy with a shot from the edge of the box, which was comfortably saved.
After taking the lead, Indian Navy expertly managed the remainder of the first half through controlled possession, restricting NEROCA largely to crosses from wide areas that the Navy defence handled with ease.
Navy's Midfield Control
In the second half, Muhammed Inayath regularly dropped into central areas alongside Adersh Mattummal and Emanuel Lalchhanchhuaha, allowing the Sailors to overload midfield and circulate the ball patiently. Substitute Pangambam Naoba Meitei injected fresh energy down the right flank, nearly adding a third goal with a powerful effort that was brilliantly saved by Penand Singh.
NEROCA's Late Push Falls Short
NEROCA FC's best opportunity of the second half came in the 82nd minute when substitute Sridarth Nongmeikapam failed to keep a close-range effort on target following a goalmouth scramble. Another substitute, Chabungbam Linky Meitei, also squandered a chance inside the penalty area. At the other end, substitute Sreyas V.G. struck cleanly but was denied by a sharp double save from Penand Singh. Indian Navy comfortably saw out the remainder of the contest.
Group D Standings and What's Next
The result moved Indian Navy FT to three points from two matches, placing them second in Group D. NEROCA FC remain rooted at the bottom with just one point from their opening two fixtures. On Thursday, 6 August, action continues with Bodoland FC vs FC1 (Group F) at 4:00 PM at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati, and Nongkseh SS & CC vs Langsning FC (Group E) at 7:00 PM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong.
Point of View
And the Sailors' response was tactically mature: control possession, compress the midfield, and punish on the counter. NEROCA FC, playing at home in Imphal, failed to convert their early pressure into goals and now face an uphill climb. The Durand Cup's northeastern leg often produces form-defining results for service sides, and Navy's clinical display here suggests they could be a genuine dark horse in the knockout rounds if they maintain this defensive discipline.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Indian Navy FT vs NEROCA FC Durand Cup match?
Indian Navy FT beat NEROCA FC 2-0 in a Group D fixture of the 135th Durand Cup on 5 August at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal. Roshan Panna and E. Muhammed Inayath scored the goals.
Who scored for Indian Navy FT against NEROCA FC?
Roshan Panna scored the opener in the first half, assisted by a chipped pass from Vijay Marandi. E. Muhammed Inayath added the second just after the hour mark with a cross that looped into the far corner.
Where does Indian Navy FT stand in Group D after this result?
Indian Navy FT moved to three points from two matches, placing them second in Group D. NEROCA FC remain at the bottom of the table with one point from two games.
Where was the 135th Durand Cup Group D match played?
The match was played at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur on Wednesday, 5 August.
What Durand Cup matches are scheduled next?
On 6 August, Bodoland FC face FC1 in Group F at 4:00 PM at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, and Nongkseh SS & CC take on Langsning FC in Group E at 7:00 PM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
