Durand Cup 2026: South United FC Register Historic First-Ever Victory with 2-0 Win Over CISF Protectors

South United FC celebrated a landmark moment in the club's history by registering their first-ever victory in the Durand Cup, defeating CISF Protectors 2-0 in their opening Group A fixture of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday.

After an evenly contested first half, South United produced an impressive second-half performance to secure all three points through goals from Rishik Shetty in the 65th minute and substitute Ashish Chetry in the 84th minute. The victory not only handed the Bengaluru-based club a dream start to their campaign but also moved them to the top of the Group A standings with an important clean sheet.

For a club making only its second appearance in India's oldest football tournament, it was a statement performance built on tactical discipline, defensive resilience and clinical finishing.

South United head coach Kaja Mohideen Bhadussa opted for an adventurous 3-4-3 formation, with experienced foreign defender Rowan James leading the backline while striker Shogouhou spearheaded the attack.

CISF Protectors, coached by Shehzad Khan, lined up in a balanced 4-4-2 system, relying on defender Bebetto to organise the defence and the forward partnership of Jacob C and Bhola Singh to provide the attacking threat.

The institutional side enjoyed the brighter start, dominating possession during the opening exchanges and attempting to pin South United inside their own half. However, South United remained compact defensively, denying CISF clear opportunities while disrupting their rhythm through disciplined midfield pressing. Despite spending less time on the ball early on, South United looked increasingly dangerous whenever they broke forward.

As the first half progressed, South United gradually began asserting themselves. Their first notable opportunity arrived after Makakmayum Daniyal earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area following a foul by Damanpreet Singh. Daniyal's curling effort struck the defensive wall before the resulting short-corner routine failed to trouble the CISF defence.

The Bengaluru side continued to build momentum. MD Altab Hussain emerged as South United's most influential attacking player, constantly stretching the opposition defence with intelligent movement and relentless pressing. Alongside Daniyal, he repeatedly forced turnovers high up the pitch, creating several promising attacking situations.

South United came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Altab Hussain missed an excellent opportunity from one of several corners they had earned.

Both Altab and Daniyal also tested the goalkeeper with ambitious efforts from distance, but Raj Kumar Mahato remained alert to keep the scores level.

CISF Misses Their Chances

While South United enjoyed greater attacking momentum, CISF Protectors were not without opportunities. Their best moment of the first half arrived when Gurpal Singh drove through midfield before releasing captain Pawan Pratap Singh, whose effort was brilliantly saved by the South United goalkeeper.

Soon afterwards, Thangminlien Haokip attempted a powerful long-range strike, but once again the South United custodian responded comfortably to preserve the deadlock. Those proved to be the final significant chances before halftime as both teams headed into the interval with the score locked at 0-0.

CISF began the second half with renewed intent. Haokip once again threatened from long range, forcing another sharp save before South United responded through a Mustafa Shaikh free-kick that narrowly sailed over the crossbar. The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 65th minute through a well-executed corner routine. Substitute Vikram delivered an excellent corner into the penalty area, where Rowan James rose highest to power a header towards goal.

Although Raj Kumar Mahato produced an outstanding save, the ball rebounded off the post and fell perfectly for Rishik Shetty, who reacted quickest to tap home from close range. The goal rewarded South United's growing control of the contest and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.

CISF Protectors responded positively after falling behind and almost found an immediate equaliser. Bhola Singh produced an inviting cross that picked out Gurpal Singh inside the penalty area, but the forward squandered a golden opportunity by firing over the crossbar. That missed chance proved costly.

With six minutes remaining, South United delivered the decisive blow. Midfielder Abhiram produced an outstanding delivery from the right wing, finding substitute Ashish Chetry perfectly positioned inside the six-yard box. Chetry made no mistake, calmly guiding the ball into the net to double South United's advantage and effectively end the contest. The goal highlighted the impact of South United's substitutes, with both Vikram and Chetry making decisive contributions after entering the field.

While the attacking display earned deserved praise, South United's defensive organisation was equally impressive. Despite CISF enjoying long spells of possession, particularly in the opening half, the three-man defence remained compact throughout the contest. Rowan James led from the back with authority, while the midfield consistently tracked runners and closed passing lanes to prevent CISF from creating sustained pressure inside the penalty area.

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The clean sheet was fully deserved and reflected the team's disciplined approach across all phases of play.

The victory represents a significant milestone for South United FC and provides an ideal platform for the remainder of their Group A campaign. Winning the club's first-ever Durand Cup match will undoubtedly boost confidence, while the manner of the performance suggests they are capable of challenging more established opponents in the competition.

For head coach Kaja Mohideen Bhadussa, the result validated both his tactical approach and the impact of his squad depth, with substitutes playing decisive roles in both goals.

CISF Protectors, meanwhile, will be disappointed to leave empty-handed after creating promising opportunities, but their inability to convert chances ultimately proved decisive.

With three points, two well-worked goals and a clean sheet, South United FC could hardly have asked for a better start to their 135th IndianOil Durand Cup campaign. If they continue to combine defensive discipline with the attacking efficiency displayed in the second half, they could emerge as one of the surprise packages of this year's tournament.