Could NEROCA FC and Indian Navy FT Find the Net in Their 134th Durand Cup Clash?

Imphal (Manipur), Aug 7 (NationPress) In an intense battle, NEROCA FC and Indian Navy FT ended in a goalless draw during their Group F clash of the 134th Durand Cup, gaining a point each at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium on Thursday. Both teams showcased strong defensive organization and midfield skirmishes, but neither could find the back of the net despite numerous opportunities.

The Indian Navy's Deny Singh initiated the action early in the 6th minute with a right-footed attempt from the wing, but NEROCA’s goalkeeper, Jetli Sorokhaibam, was quick to respond, making a low save to his left.

The Orange Brigade countered in the 11th minute with a through ball from midfield that set Lourembam free on the left. He charged down the flank but his shot was easily handled by Bhaskar Roy. NEROCA then took control of possession, challenging the Navy's defense with runs from Lourembam and Rohit Meetei, yet the Navy held their ground.

On the other hand, the Indian Navy also had their chances, with Deny Singh pulling the strings from deep and delivering passes to Sreyas, who unfortunately did not make the most of these chances; a weak shot in the 27th minute went directly to the goalkeeper.

The first half was characterized by impressive defensive efforts from both teams. For NEROCA, Lucas Da Silva and Japes were particularly commendable, intercepting crucial runs and managing aerial threats adeptly.

The second half brought a significant opportunity for the Sailors in the 50th minute when Roshan Panna set up Deny Singh for a curling effort that just missed the target. Three minutes later, Deny attempted another shot from outside the box, but it went astray. NEROCA’s captain, Kinesh Singh, came close to breaking the stalemate in the 60th minute with a left-footed attempt that went wide. Shortly after, the Sailors earned a free kick at the edge of the box, but Adersh’s shot hit the defensive wall.

In a dramatic turn, the Indian Navy nearly clinched a last-minute victory in the 88th minute when substitute Sadananda Singh provided a brilliant ball to an unmarked Sreyas, who struck the post. Just a minute later, at the opposite end, Gomado had a similar chance but shot wide.

The final moments were tense, highlighted by Zlex receiving a direct red card for a tactical foul on Roshan Panna, halting a Navy counterattack. Pintu then failed to make an impact from the resulting free kick as the referee blew the final whistle, confirming a scoreline of 0-0.

The Indian Navy FT now holds four points from two matches and remains at the top of Group F, with a match against TRAU FC scheduled for August 12. NEROCA FC, currently on two points, will face Real Kashmir FC on August 10.