In a thrilling quarter-final match of the
Raengdai Takes Early Lead
The match began at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Stadium, where FC Raengdai shocked the crowd by taking an early lead. In the ninth minute, Chongtham Kishan Singh unleashed a powerful long-range shot from approximately 20 meters. The ball struck the crossbar and ricocheted into the net, leaving SC Delhi's goalkeeper, Nora Fernandes, with no chance to respond.
Despite the setback, SC Delhi quickly sought to equalize, launching a series of attacks. However, Raengdai's defense, anchored by Rojen Meetei, Lanchungrei Pamei, and Amitkumar Singh, held firm, thwarting SC Delhi's efforts. Khaidem Amarjit Singh also posed a threat for Raengdai, contributing to an exciting back-and-forth contest.
SC Delhi's Second-Half Surge
After halftime, SC Delhi emerged with renewed vigor, and the introduction of substitute Joseph Sunny proved pivotal. In the 57th minute, Sunny leveled the score with a precise low shot that found the bottom-left corner of the net, following a clever assist from Juan Sebastian Pena.
Just ten minutes later, Sunny struck again, this time capitalizing on another brilliant pass from Pena. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, Sunny maintained his composure to put SC Delhi ahead 2-1. The momentum shifted dramatically in favor of SC Delhi, who continued to press forward. Rodriguinho added a third goal in the 82nd minute, skillfully maneuvering past defenders before finishing with a left-footed shot.
The final moments of the match saw SC Delhi score two more goals. In stoppage time, Pena executed a dazzling dribble into the box, finishing with a no-look shot to extend the lead to 4-1. Augustine Lalrochana capped off the scoring in the eighth minute of added time, driving into the box and placing the ball into the far corner, sealing a resounding 5-1 victory for SC Delhi.
East Bengal Edges Past Indian Army
In another quarter-final match, East Bengal FC secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Indian Army FT. The match, held in Kolkata, saw East Bengal dominate possession from the outset, keeping the Army side on the defensive. The breakthrough came in the 38th minute when PV Vishnu scored with a well-timed header, capitalizing on a cross from Christopher Ikonomidis.
Despite several opportunities to extend their lead, including a near miss from substitute Jesin TK, East Bengal maintained their slim advantage. Indian Army nearly equalized in the dying moments of the match, but East Bengal's defense held firm, ensuring their progression to the semi-finals.
