SC Delhi Storm Into Durand Cup Semifinals After Stunning 5-1 Comeback Against FC Raengdai

SC Delhi produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, recovering from an early deficit to thrash debutants FC Raengdai 5-1 in the first quarterfinal at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium on Sunday.

FC Raengdai looked firmly in control after Chongtham Kishan Singh produced a stunning long-range strike in the ninth minute, but SC Delhi transformed the contest after half-time. Substitute Joseph Sunny scored twice in a ten-minute spell to turn the match around before Rodriguinho, Juan Sebastian Peña and Augustine Lalrochana added further goals to complete an emphatic victory.

The result sends SC Delhi into the semifinals, while Raengdai's memorable first appearance in the Durand Cup comes to an end at the quarterfinal stage.

The debutants began the match with confidence, controlling possession, moving the ball patiently and pressing SC Delhi high up the pitch. SC Delhi, however, showed an early threat on the counter. In the seventh minute, captain Lamgoulen Semkholun delivered an excellent cross from the right, with Juan Sebastian Peña producing a superb leap to direct his header towards the far post. The attempt bounced over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Raengdai produced the breakthrough. Chongtham Kishan Singh unleashed an outstanding effort from around 20 metres. The shot dipped late, struck the inside of the crossbar and bounced into the net, leaving SC Delhi goalkeeper Nora Fernandes with no chance.

SC Delhi 0-1 FC Raengdai.

The goal did little to settle the contest. SC Delhi immediately pushed for an equaliser, with Semkholun testing the Raengdai defence from an acute angle in the 15th minute.

Raengdai goalkeeper Kamei Pantiga and his defenders held firm. The defensive unit, led by Rojen Meetei, Lanchungrei Pamei and Amitkumar Singh, repeatedly denied SC Delhi access to dangerous areas. SC Delhi continued to create opportunities. Mohammed Aimen made a strong run down the right and found Rodriguinho inside the box, but Raengdai's defence crowded out the forward.

The capital side came even closer in the 33rd minute when Semkholun rose to meet another cross. Rojen Meetei made an important intervention, conceding a corner. From the resulting attack, Lalrinliana Hnamte headed towards goal, only to see his attempt strike the post. Raengdai survived and carried its 1-0 advantage into half-time.

Joseph Sunny changes everything.

SC Delhi emerged from the break with a completely different intensity. The introduction of Joseph Sunny proved to be the turning point. Sunny almost made an immediate impact in the 52nd minute after a brilliant run. He squared the ball to Rodriguinho, whose effort appeared destined for the net before Pantiga produced an outstanding save.

Five minutes later, however, the goalkeeper could do nothing. Peña created the opening before releasing Sunny, who collected the ball on the edge of the box and fired a precise low finish between two defenders and into the bottom-left corner.

The equaliser transformed the momentum of the match. SC Delhi suddenly looked far more confident, while Raengdai struggled to reproduce the control it had shown during the first half. Ten minutes later, Sunny completed the turnaround.

Once again, Peña was at the centre of the move, producing a superb no-look pass that released Sunny into the penalty area. The substitute found himself one-on-one with Pantiga and calmly finished beyond the goalkeeper.

A match that had appeared to be slipping away from SC Delhi at half-time had been completely turned on its head.

Raengdai attempted to respond, with Midul Doley producing a dangerous run before sending an effort into the side-netting. Pantiga continued to keep his side within touching distance. In the 78th minute, Sunny combined with Peña, who again found Rodriguinho with an excellent pass. The forward's attempt was brilliantly saved by Pantiga.

But the goalkeeper could only delay the inevitable. Four minutes later, Rodriguinho finally got his goal. The forward showed excellent composure to work past two defenders before slotting a left-footed finish beyond Pantiga. The goal effectively ended Raengdai's hopes of another comeback.

Late goals complete emphatic victory

The final stages turned into a goal-scoring exhibition for SC Delhi. In the third minute of stoppage time, Juan Sebastian Peña produced a brilliant dribbling run into the penalty area before applying a composed no-look finish.

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Raengdai continued to fight despite the scoreline, with Midul Doley again finding space deep into stoppage time, but the debutants could not find a way through. SC Delhi then added a fifth in the eighth minute of added time. Substitute Augustine Lalrochana collected the ball on the left, drove into the box and finished stylishly into the far corner.

SC Delhi 5-1 FC Raengdai.

The final whistle confirmed a remarkable turnaround.

The victory sends SC Delhi into the Durand Cup semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Indian Army Football Team and East Bengal FC on August 19 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

For FC Raengdai, the defeat ends a remarkable debut campaign. The Manipur-based club had already made history by reaching the Durand Cup knockout stage in its first appearance. SC Delhi, meanwhile, demonstrated the attacking quality and resilience required to go deep into the competition.

The quarterfinal will be remembered for the extraordinary shift after half-time. Raengdai had the lead, the momentum and the defensive structure at the interval.

SC Delhi had something else: Joseph Sunny.

His two goals changed the game, and once the capital side found its rhythm, there was no stopping the comeback. Five goals after conceding first sent SC Delhi into the last four in emphatic fashion.