In the first game on Matchday 17 of the 131st IndianOil Durand Cup on Thursday, September 01, 2022, Jamshedpur FC (JFC) and the Indian Air Force Football Team (IAFFT) play for pride while in the second, local hope Tiddim Road Athletic Union (TRAU) FC take on Chennayin FC in game the former cannot lose. The first game is in Group A at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata while the second in Group C, takes place in the evening at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal.
A battle for pride
Both JFC and IAFFT cannot progress to the knockouts even if they win on Thursday and both will look to go out on a high. Mohammedan and Bengaluru have already qualified from the Group.
The young colts of Jamshedpur will be flying high after a win over champions FC Goa in their previous game and will look to build on that against the Air Men, who have looked out of depth in this IndianOil Durand Cup edition.
However, the Air Force have experienced players in their squad and when it comes to pride, anything can happen.
TRAU and Chennayin look to avoid defeat
Local hope TRAU FC must win on Thursday over Chennayin FC, if they have to harbour hopes of progressing to the next stage as they end their group engagements. Chennayin have a game over Neroca as their last engagement and if they can avoid a loss to TRAU, a win in that last game can still see them through as the second team in the group.
Much will depend on Chennayin’s midfield linchpin Anirudh Thapa who has been key to Chennayin’s results whereas TRAU will be buoyed by their come from behind win against the Army Red in their previous game. With support in the stands for the local side and with so much at stake, it promises to be an exciting clash.
Report- Pratyusha Mukherjee
Source – Indian Army
