Durand Cup Takeaways: Mumbai City, Mohammedan SC, Odisha FC reach quarterfinals

ISL teams have slowly been getting into the groove.

The second week of the Durand Cup 2022 saw some intense battles. Normal service resumed to some extent as teams found their rhythm and preferred set-ups for their respective domestic seasons. Mohammedan SC won three in three in Group A, qualifying for the quarterfinals.

Mumbai City join the Black Panthers in the knockouts from Group B after their unbeaten start. Odisha also began with a hat-trick of wins in Group D. Fellow ISL teams Bengaluru FC and Hyderabad FC need just a point to make the cut, having played a game less. Here are the five takeaways from the second week of the Durand Cup.

Note: Only matches until August 29 were taken into account!

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5.   ISL clubs settling into a rhythm

We are seeing two different approaches from ISL clubs in Durand Cup 2022. ATKMB, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, Hyderabad FC, and Odisha FC brought in their senior squads with some foreign players making the trip. FC Goa, Kerala Blasters, NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC, and Chennaiyin FC saw this as a chance to test their academy strength, fielding young Indians in their starting XIs.

The clubs who brought in their senior squads are not seeing the Durand Cup as a pre-season, but look determined to win the trophy. They have already posted some big wins to make their intentions clear. Some dangerous strike partnerships are being forged, while defenders and midfielders are beginning to understand their roles. Overseas players plying their trade in India for the first time are getting used to the conditions.

4.  Mohammedan SC are dark horses

With calls for a unified league in India becoming louder by the day, the Durand Cup is the perfect experiment to judge the capabilities of I-League clubs against ISL teams. Mohammedan SC have won their first three matches comprehensively. They beat FC Goa 3-1, Jamshedpur FC 3-0, and Indian Air Force 2-0.

Although the two ISL teams they faced played their reserve squads, it will be interesting to see Mohammedan SC face off against a full-strength ISL team in a knockout game.

3.  ISL clubs need to rethink their approach

The Highlanders have endured a disappointing campaign so far, languishing at the bottom of Group D with three losses and a -11 Goal Difference. They lost 6-0 to Odisha, 1-3 to Army Green, and 0-3 to Kerala Blasters.

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Chennaiyin FC and East Bengal are also perilously close to elimination. Chennaiyin FC sit at the bottom of Group C and are winless, while East Bengal have managed two draws against Indian Navy and RUFC and lost the Kolkata Derby. They don't have their big-name foreign signings on the pitch to help them and the youngsters are constantly being chopped and changed.

Not giving a long rope to promising young Indian players could be counter-productive in the long run despite their low pre-tournament expectations.

2. Army Red and Army Green are hard to beat

Army Red came back strongly to hold Chennaiyin to a 2-2 draw. They kept a clean sheet against NEROCA and narrowly lost 1-2 to TRAU. Army Green currently sit in second place, behind runaway Group D leaders Odisha FC. They defeated NorthEast United 3-1 and held Sudeva Delhi to a 0-0 draw.

Both teams have proven to be difficult to break down defensively, sitting deep in a low block.

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1. Performances will not go unrewarded

Rajasthan United’s custodian Niraj Kumar has been one of the stars of the 2022 Durand Cup. He denied ATKMB victory with a string of saves and showcased good command and distribution in RUFC’s goalless draw against East Bengal, keeping a clean sheet.

Niraj was on loan at Real Kashmir last season and signed a three-year deal with Rajasthan United till 2025. However, Odisha FC triggered his buy-out clause to sign the impressive custodian for the upcoming season. This goes to show that the ISL clubs are willing to spend big to fill the gaps in their squad with the best emerging Indian talent.

Rajasthan United’s 17-year-old midfielder Nikum Gyamar has already turned several heads with his outstanding displays. He has scored two goals in the Durand Cup - his second strike against Mumbai City being a goal of the tournament contender.

Nikum is the first player from Arunachal Pradesh to play in the I-League qualifiers and Durand Cup. He has a freshly inked four-year contract with RUFC, but an offer from a big ISL club could be irresistible.

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