Shillong, Aug 18: Ongoing unrest in Kolkata has forced the hand of the Durand Cup 2024 organisers to the benefit of Shillong, which will host the quarterfinal between Shillong Lajong FC and East Bengal at the JN Stadium on 21st August. Kick-off will be at 7PM.
Shillong was only meant to host the six Group F matches, with two quarterfinals in Kolkata and one each in Kokrajhar and Jamshedpur.
However, unrest in the West Bengal capital since the heinous rape and murder of a doctor in a city hospital there led first to the Group A match between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal being cancelled. Now, although Kolkata will still host the fourth quarterfinal between Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC on 23rd August, the Lajong-East Bengal game has been moved to Shillong. Kolkata is also meant to host both semifinals and the final. Sportstar has reported that these matches could be moved to Jamshedpur if the situation doesn’t improve.
Lajong, the Group F winners, will meet East Bengal (Group A runners-up) for the first time at the senior level since 2019 in the I-League. SLFC were relegated after that and EB went on to join the Indian Super League, so this should be a very interesting coming together of old foes.
Quarterfinal 1 (21st August @ SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar):
NorthEast United FC vs Indian Army, 4PM
Quarterfinal 2 (21st August @ JN Stadium, Shillong):
Shillong Lajong FC vs East Bengal FC, 7PM
Quarterfinal 3 (23rd August @ JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur):
Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Punjab FC, 4PM
Quarterfinal 4 (23rd August @ Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata):
Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters FC, 7PM
(Durand Cup media photo)