Durand Cup 2024: Mohun Bagan defeated Punjab FC in the third quarterfinal of the Durand Cup 2024 to keep their title defence alive on Friday, August 23. The Mariners edged past a tough challenge from the Punjab side 6-5 in the sudden death to make their way into the semifinals.
The game went down the wire at the JRD Sports Complex Stadium, Jamshedpur. It was all squared at 3-3 with nothing to separate them in the regulation time. With no extra time available, the game went into the penalties.
Punjab were leading 4-3 in the first four spot kicks but they lost steam when it mattered the most. Ivan hit the post on the final attempt before Stewart scored for the Mariners to take the game into the sudden death. Both the teams scored but Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Kaith made a save in the second sudden death kick following which Aldred scored for the defenders to win the game.
The game was tied 3-3 in regulation time. The game shifted its pendulum throughout the 90 minutes. Punjab scored first with Luka Majcen scoring on a penalty kick in the 17th minute before Greg Stewart's shot, deflected into the goal by Suhail Bhat, brought the Mariners back to level terms.
Manvir took Mohubn Bagan into the lead early in the second half with a 48th-minute strike into the left-bottom corner. With half an hour left on the clock, it looked like the defenders would clinch it but Punjab roared back with two goals in eight minutes, leading 3-2 going into the last 15 minutes. Filip scored first for Punjab in the second half, shooting the ball like a bullet speed before Pulga Vidal put Punjab ahead in the 71st minute. With time running fast, Jason Cummins brought the Mariners back to level in the 79th minute, taking the game in the penalty shootouts, where the defenders eventually prevailed in the sudden death.
