Diamond Harbour FC's road to the Durand Cup 2025 Final

Diamond Harbour FC played Durand Cup for the first time this season.

Diamond Harbour FC are scripting one of the most remarkable fairytale runs in Indian Football’s recent history as they have qualified for the Durand Cup 2025 Final, merely 5 years after their initiation. To put that into context, the tournament is 134 years old.

They defeated 16-time champions East Bengal in the semi-finals on Wednesday, August 20th in front of the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, which was packed with fans of the Red and Gold brigade who fell short on the night.

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In this article, we take a look at how Diamond Harbour FC turned into a giant-killing team in this year’s edition of the Durand Cup and their journey to their very first final.

A High-Scoring Group Stage

Diamond Harbour FC started their Durand Cup campaign with a statement victory over Mohammedan SC, one of the big three of Kolkata Football. They registered a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from Sairuat Kima and Luka Majcen.

Their biggest win of the tournament came against Border Security Force, who they destroyed by a ruthless 8-1 scoreline. Clayton ran riot and scored a poker, while Majcen scored a brace, and Ramfangzuava and skipper Jobby Justin also got on the scoresheet.

However, the Harbour Boys suffered a setback as 2023 champions Mohun Bagan handed them a 1-5 defeat. However, their goal difference was enough for them to qualify as one of the two best second-placed teams from the group stage.

Back-to-back knockout wins against ISL teams

DHFC were placed against Jamshedpur FC in the quarter finals of their debut in the competition. While Khalid Jamil had already taken charge of the Indian team and discontinued his duties with the Red Miners, the team still retained its core and included seasoned ISL foreigners.

Despite this, Kibu Vicuna’s men produced a confident 2-0 result against the Juggernauts. Sairuat Kima was at it again, with a first-half brace to see the Harbour Boys into the semi-finals, where they were set to face the 2023 finalists East Bengal FC.

It was always going to be a mammoth task to take on the Red and Gold brigade. Firstly, for any club from Bengal trying to make a name for themselves, the likes of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are nothing short of institutions that have churned out football for over a century.

To put things in perspective, East Bengal celebrated its centenary year in 2020, the same year that Diamond Harbour FC was founded. The Red and Golds were fresh off a win over their arch rivals Mohun Bagan, with 2023/24 ISL Golden Boot winner Dimitrios Diamantakos looking in great shape. The East Bengal faithful had packed the stands at the VYBK as well, to see their team qualify for yet another final.

Despite all of this, Kibu Vicuna’s men still stood their ground and brought a win home. Kortazar scored a spectacular back volley in the 66th minute to get the lead, but East Bengal instantly equalised with an Anwar Ali screamer from outside the box.

It was Jobby Justin, the skipper and the former EB striker, who bundled in the winner in the 82nd minute to take the game away from his former side and take DHFC to their first-ever Durand Cup final.

The fairytale run sees its final obstacle in NorthEast United FC, the defending champions, who await East Bengal in the final on 23rd August at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

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