Shillong and Jamshedpur witnessed contrasting tales of grit and heartbreak in the Durand Cup 2025 on Monday, as Rangdajied United FC held defending champion NorthEast United FC to a dramatic 2-2 draw, while the Indian Army Football Team bowed out despite a stirring comeback win.
At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Rangdajied came from behind to rattle the Highlanders before settling for their first point of the tournament. NorthEast United struck first through Bekey Oram’s composed penalty in the early minutes. The lead, however, did not last long. Manbhakupar Iawphniaw levelled the score with a confident finish, igniting hopes among the home supporters.
Just before halftime, Rangdajied’s Danzel Umdor pounced on a defensive lapse to put his side 2-1 up, sending the crowd into raptures. For a brief spell, the defending champions looked shaken. But NEUFC, showing why they remain unbeaten this season, crafted a precise second-half equaliser through Jairo, whose clinical strike capped off a flowing team move.
The draw means NorthEast United progress to the quarterfinals without a single loss, while Rangdajied bow out with pride restored. For the Highlanders, it was a reminder that defending their crown will require sharper starts.
Earlier, in Jamshedpur’s JRD Tata Sports Complex, the Indian Army Football Team delivered a performance brimming with resilience. Facing a 0-2 deficit against 1 Ladakh FC, the soldiers roared back with four unanswered goals to secure a 4-2 victory in their final Group C match.
Despite finishing second in the group with six points—matching other contenders for the two best second-placed quarterfinal berths—their +2 goal difference proved insufficient to advance. It was a bittersweet ending for a side that had fought to the last whistle.
The day’s results set the stage for an intense knockout phase, with NorthEast United entering on the back of a hard-fought draw, and the Indian Army exiting with heads held high. For Rangdajied, the final whistle brought both relief and frustration—a glimpse of what might have been, had their fighting spirit emerged earlier in the campaign.
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