Indian Army FT Continue Perfect Start with Dominant 4-0 Win Over Baghpat FC in Durand Cup 2026

Indian Army Football Team maintained their flawless start to the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, registering a convincing 4-0 victory over debutants Baghpat FC in their Group B encounter at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

A dominant first-half display laid the foundation for the win as Samir Murmu, Saikhom Borish Singh, Shubham Rana and P. Christopher Kamei all found the back of the net before the break. The Services side controlled proceedings throughout the contest to collect their second consecutive victory and move to six points from two matches, strengthening their position at the top of Group B.

For Baghpat FC, the defeat brought an end to their maiden Durand Cup campaign without a point, though the young side showed glimpses of promise against one of the tournament's most experienced teams.

Fresh from an opening-match victory, Indian Army entered the fixture full of confidence and immediately imposed themselves on the game through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking intent forced Baghpat goalkeeper Ayan Bhattacharya into action within the opening minutes as he raced well outside his penalty area to clear the danger after another well-timed Army attack.

The pressure continued to build, with Samir Murmu seeing an early effort blocked before the breakthrough finally arrived in the 12th minute.

Midfielder Christopher Kamei showcased his vision by delivering a perfectly weighted ball over the Baghpat defensive line. Murmu timed his run brilliantly before calmly lifting the ball over the advancing Bhattacharya to hand Indian Army a deserved lead. The goal settled the Services side, who continued to dominate possession while stretching the opposition through both flanks.

Indian Army's width proved to be one of their biggest strengths throughout the opening period. Wingers Shubham Rana and Pawar Abhishek Shankar repeatedly created overloads down the wings, forcing Baghpat's defence into uncomfortable positions. The visitors suffered an additional setback when defender Rohit Saibya was forced off due to injury, disrupting their defensive organisation even further.

Indian Army capitalised almost immediately. In the 23rd minute, Christopher Kamei delivered another excellent cross into the penalty area, where Saikhom Borish Singh rose above the defenders to power a header into the net and double the advantage.

The second goal reflected the Army side's dominance in aerial situations, an area where Baghpat struggled throughout the contest.

Baghpat attempted to respond after falling two goals behind and produced their first meaningful opportunity shortly after the half-hour mark. Crispin C. Cleetus delivered an inviting cross into the box, but substitute Senthamil S failed to guide his header on target. The missed opportunity proved costly.

Just minutes later, Indian Army struck again. Another dangerous cross from Christopher Kamei found Pardeep Singh, whose header crashed against the post. With the Baghpat defence unable to clear the rebound, Shubham Rana reacted quickest to fire home from close range and make it 3-0 in the 36th minute.

The goal effectively ended the contest as a competitive affair.

Having already registered two assists, Christopher Kamei deservedly added his own name to the scoresheet before halftime. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Pawar Abhishek Shankar cut inside from the right before finding Kamei in space. The midfielder shifted the ball onto his preferred left foot before curling a superb effort into the top corner, giving Bhattacharya absolutely no chance.

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It was a fitting reward for one of the standout performers of the evening. His influence in midfield, combined with his creativity in the final third, ensured Indian Army entered the interval with a commanding 4-0 lead.

With the result virtually secured, Indian Army adopted a more measured approach after the restart. Although they continued to dominate possession, the intensity naturally dropped as they focused on controlling the tempo and protecting their clean sheet. Baghpat displayed greater attacking ambition in the second half.

Captain Aaryan Amla, midfielder Ningthoukhongjam Rohen Singh, and winger Crispin C. Cleetus attempted to drive the team forward, but they struggled to create genuine scoring opportunities against the disciplined Army defence. The backline, marshalled by Shafeel P.P., Pardeep Singh and Sunil B, remained organised and rarely allowed the visitors any clear sight of goal.

Despite trailing heavily, goalkeeper Ayan Bhattacharya continued to impress throughout the second half. He denied Pawar Abhishek Shankar with an excellent save from distance before producing another smart stop to keep out Samir Murmu's curling effort. Substitute Tejas Narayan Choudhary also worked tirelessly in midfield with several determined defensive interventions, while Om Motghare made an important late block to prevent another Army goal.

Although Indian Army created additional opportunities, Bhattacharya's heroics ensured the scoreline remained at four.

The victory places Indian Army firmly in control of Group B with six points from two matches, making them one of the early favourites to progress into the knockout stages. Their performances have highlighted a balanced squad capable of combining defensive solidity with attacking efficiency.

Baghpat FC, meanwhile, bow out of their debut Durand Cup campaign without registering a point. While the results did not go their way, the tournament provided valuable exposure against experienced opposition and will serve as an important learning experience for the club.

With two emphatic victories to begin their campaign, Indian Army FT have announced themselves as serious contenders in this year's Durand Cup. Their clinical finishing, disciplined defensive structure and midfield control have made them one of the standout teams in the competition so far. If they can maintain this level of consistency in the matches ahead, the Services outfit will undoubtedly be among the strongest challengers for the prestigious Durand Cup title.