NEROCA beat nine-man FC Raengdai 3-1 in 135th Durand Cup Group D
Synopsis
Nine-man FC Raengdai held NEROCA at bay for most of the second half, but two late substitutes — Linky Meitei and Renedy Meitei — broke the deadlock in the final minutes to hand NEROCA a 3-1 win and a winning end to their 135th Durand Cup group stage. Raengdai, already through to the quarters, leave Imphal with six points and a double red-card lesson.
Key Takeaways
NEROCA FC defeated FC Raengdai 3-1 at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal on 12 August in the 135th Durand Cup .
FC Raengdai were reduced to nine men in the second half after red cards for P.M.
Rakeveiche (55th minute) and Soraisham Surjakanta Singh (58th minute).
Substitute Chabungbam Linky Meitei headed NEROCA ahead in the 89th minute ; substitute Yumnam Renedy Meitei added a third in stoppage time.
NEROCA finished Group D with four points ; FC Raengdai finished with six points and advance to the quarter-finals.
Midul Doley (FC Raengdai) won the Group D Emerging Player Award and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh .
NEROCA FC staged a determined comeback to defeat FC Raengdai 3-1 in the 135th Durand Cup at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Imphal, on Wednesday, 12 August, ending their Group D campaign on a winning note despite playing against a side that had already sealed a quarter-final berth.
Key Developments
Jonah Kamei gave FC Raengdai the lead in the 19th minute, powering a header from a corner past the goalkeeper. NEROCA levelled eight minutes later through an own goal — Raengdai midfielder Thoudam Nani Singh turning the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a through-ball won by Modou Mbengue. The match swung decisively in the second half after FC Raengdai were reduced to nine men within a four-minute span.
The Red Cards That Changed the Game
In the 55th minute, attacker P.M. Rakeveiche was shown a straight red card for a high-boot challenge on centre-back Soibam Abhinash Singh. The referee initially produced a yellow, but upgraded the decision after consulting his assistant. Three minutes later, second-half substitute Soraisham Surjakanta Singh — booked just seven minutes after coming on — received a second yellow and was also dismissed, leaving Raengdai with nine players for the final 30 minutes.
NEROCA's Late Surge
Despite their numerical advantage, NEROCA struggled to break down a resolute nine-man Raengdai defence that dropped deep and kept all eight outfield players behind the ball. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 89th minute: substitute Imarson Meitei delivered a weighted cross for fellow substitute Chabungbam Linky Meitei, who headed home to put NEROCA ahead. Another substitute, Yumnam Renedy Meitei, added a third in stoppage time with a composed finish to seal the result.
Group D Final Standings
NEROCA FC finished with four points from three matches. FC Raengdai, who had already secured their quarter-final place before kick-off, closed the group stage with six points from three matches and will now advance to the knockout rounds. Midul Doley of FC Raengdai was named the Group D Emerging Player and received a cash award of ₹1 lakh, presented by Lt. Gen. Girish Kalia AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, 3 CORPS.
What's Next
Thursday's fixtures in the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup include Jamshedpur FC vs Indian Air Force FT (Group C) at Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi at 4:00 PM, Bodoland FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC (Group F) at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati at 4:00 PM, and Shillong Lajong FC vs Langsning FC (Group E) at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong at 7:00 PM. FC Raengdai's quarter-final campaign begins as the group stage wraps up across all venues.
Point of View
Nine-man Raengdai defended with more discipline than NEROCA attacked with invention. The real story is how dependent NEROCA's comeback was on substitutes rather than structure: both decisive goals came from players introduced off the bench, suggesting the starting XI lacked the creativity to unlock a depleted defence. For the Durand Cup, the broader concern is whether northeast-based clubs — strong on heart, thin on squad depth — can sustain this kind of performance into the knockout rounds.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between NEROCA FC and FC Raengdai in the 135th Durand Cup?
NEROCA FC beat FC Raengdai 3-1 at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal on 12 August. Jonah Kamei scored for Raengdai, while an own goal and strikes from Chabungbam Linky Meitei and Yumnam Renedy Meitei sealed the win for NEROCA.
Why were FC Raengdai reduced to nine men?
FC Raengdai had two players sent off in the second half within three minutes of each other. Attacker P.M. Rakeveiche received a straight red card in the 55th minute for a high-boot challenge, and substitute Soraisham Surjakanta Singh was dismissed in the 58th minute after picking up a second yellow card.
Did FC Raengdai qualify for the Durand Cup quarter-finals?
Yes, FC Raengdai had already secured their quarter-final berth before this match. They finished Group D with six points from three matches and will advance to the knockout stage despite the defeat.
Who won the Group D Emerging Player Award in the 135th Durand Cup?
Midul Doley of FC Raengdai was named the Group D Emerging Player. He received a cash award of ₹1 lakh, presented by Lt. Gen. Girish Kalia AVSM, VSM, General Officer Commanding, 3 CORPS.
Where does NEROCA FC finish after the Durand Cup group stage?
NEROCA FC finished their Group D campaign with four points from three matches. The win gave them a positive end to the group stage, though their final standing in the group was below quarter-finalists FC Raengdai.
