Samaleswari Sporting stormed back to winning ways with a commanding 4-1 victory over Baghpat FC in a Group B fixture of the 135th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 31 July. A first-half double from Marat Tareck and Gnohere Krizo set the platform, before Basit Ahmed Bhat sealed the result with a quickfire second-half brace.

First Half: Samaleswari Strike Early, Baghpat Hit Back

The Odisha-based side drew first blood in the 10th minute through a swift counter-attack. Rashid M. burst down the right flank and squared for Krizo, whose close-range effort was parried by the goalkeeper. Marat Tareck reacted first to the rebound, tapping into an empty net to give Samaleswari an early advantage.

Baghpat FC levelled in the 30th minute through a moment of individual brilliance. Piyush Sikarwar laid the ball into the path of Crispin Cleetus, who unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from outside the penalty area that flew past goalkeeper Aaryan Anjaneya and into the top corner.

Samaleswari regained the lead in first-half stoppage time when Basit Ahmed Bhat's long free-kick deflected off Krizo's thigh and looped over stranded Baghpat goalkeeper Ayan Bhattacharya to restore the advantage heading into the break.

Second Half: Basit Brace Puts Result Beyond Doubt

The second period belonged almost entirely to Samaleswari, who controlled possession and dictated the tempo throughout. In the 56th minute, Basit Ahmed Bhat extended the lead, meeting substitute Veer Arjun Joshi's corner with a composed finish to make it 3-1.

Five minutes later, Basit completed his brace to put the contest beyond doubt. A well-worked short-corner routine between Veer Arjun Joshi and fellow substitute Cris Nowang Sherpa created the opening, with Sherpa delivering an inviting cross that Basit met with a perfectly-timed looping header to make it 4-1.

Significance for Both Sides

The win is a crucial lifeline for Samaleswari Sporting, who had suffered a narrow defeat in their tournament opener. The victory keeps their qualification hopes very much alive. For Baghpat FC, Durand Cup debutants, the loss compounds their misery — it is now two consecutive defeats in the competition, leaving their campaign in serious difficulty.

Notably, both sides lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, with Samaleswari's attacking partnership of Krizo and Tareck proving decisive in the first half. Armand Bazie came close to adding a fifth in the 90th minute, but the Ivorian's powerful long-range effort drifted narrowly wide.

What's Next

Action in the 135th Durand Cup continues on 1 August, with Shillong Lajong FC taking on Nongkseh SS&CC in Group E at 5:00 PM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, followed by East Bengal FC facing CISF Protectors in Group A at 7:30 PM at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK) in Kolkata.