JCT Mills set the 116th Durand Cup rolling with a 2-1 victory over Army XI in a Group 'A' quarter-final league match in Delhi on Saturday even as Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan pulled out of the tournament.
The organisers said they received a fax from Bagan today saying the team was forced to pull out due to injuries to a number of players.
Bagan will be replaced by Air India in Group D.
In the second match of the day, Mohammedan Sporting came from behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against Tata Footbal1 Academy in Group C.
Starting the match without star striker I M Vijayan, who arrived in Delhi this morning after playing his last match for the country in the Afro-Asian Games football final against Uzbekistan last night, JCT found the going tough in the first 45 minutes which ended goalless.
But four minutes into the second half, Harbinder Singh put JCT ahead with a fine strike before Jo Paul Ancheri made it 2-0 converting a penalty kick in the 89th minute.
Their pride dented, the Army team went all out and immediately won a penalty, which was converted by Raghu Kumar.
JCT will take on Mahindra United next Wednesday after Army XI takes on the Mumbai champions on November 3.
© 2024 Rediff.com -