Durand Cup 2021 Semi-Final Live Commentary: Mohammedan SC vs Bengaluru United

Follow the live action from the Durand Cup 2021 semi-final between Mohammedan SC and Bengaluru United here. (Refresh the page if any issue arises)

5:30 pm: Hello everyone, and welcome to Khel Now's LIVE COVERAGE of the Durand Cup 2021!

As you all know, the group stage is done and dusted and so are the quarter-finals - which means that only three games remain before we have the winner! Today we have the first semi-final clash, where Mohammedan SC will lock horns with Bengaluru United. I am your host, Atrayo Bhattacharya and I'll be keeping you company through what promises to be a fascinating evening of football.

Mohammedan SC beat the defending champions Gokulam Kerala in a hard-fought quarter-final clash last week. Meanwhile, Bengaluru United did not have to play their Q/F game as their opponents, Army Red withdrew from the competition due to multiple COVID-19-positive cases in their squad.

Mohammedan SC vs Bengaluru United: building up

Mohammedan will pin their hopes on star forwards Marcus Joseph and Azharuddin Mallick who have been phenomenal in this year’s Durand, but it will certainly not be a cakewalk to go past FCBU keeper Kunzang Bhutia , who has maintained two clean sheets in three matches so far. Pedro Manzi will be the key strike-force leader for FCBU.

The Black Panthers’ Head Coach, Andrey Chernyshov shared his thoughts ahead of the big game stating, “When we have a good field, we show beautiful attacking football. We are very glad that we will play in the presence of fans, they are the most wonderful in the world and are very important to us. We want to please them with a beautiful game and a good result.”

Richard Hood, Head Coach, FC Bengaluru United spoke about his team’s approach ahead of the game and said, “Nothing changes in our approach. Our desire to win will have to be stronger than that of our opponent and we will count on our collective belief and intent to script the result. With the finals of the Durand at stake, the last group game against them is behind us now and we start again from scratch going into the semis.”

He added, “The home crowd being present is a positive as it is a sign of our game coming back to health. We will ensure that everyone present gets a top notch encounter with our performance and energy on the day.”

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