Watch Durand Cup 2022 Opener Live
Defending champions Goa FC meet local hero Mohammedan Sporting in the opening game of Group A of the 131st Durand Cup in Kolkata on Tuesday. The match between Mohammedan Sporting and FC Goa will be broadcast live.
Ahead of the game, there will be a short and lively Opening Ceremony featuring bands from the armed forces and the tournament’s theme song performed by star singers Papon and Rewben Mashangwa. The ceremony ends with the playing of the FIFA theme song.
Game and TV details
Fit: Opening match of Durand Cup 2022 between Mohammedan Sporting and FC Goa;
date: August 16 (Tuesday), 2022;
time: 7:00 p.m. IST
Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
The game Mohammedan Sporting vs Goa FC, Durand Cup 2022 will be broadcast live on Sports18 network. Live streaming will be available on Voot.
preview
Goa FC had won their first Durand Cup title after beating Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in the top game of the last edition in October last year. The Goan side are full of young talent and Mohammedan Sporting boss Andrey Chernyshov of Russia again stressed the importance of a win to start the season.
“We all remember that we lost to FC Goa in the last final. That will of course motivate us in this game,” said Chernyshov in a broadcast. “But we also understand that this is the opening game of the tournament and is an added excitement. We have a lot of new players that we want to see in serious games. So it’s very important for us to start the tournament with a win.”
The Gaurs, this time directed by Deggie Cardozo, are trying to seize the opportunity to perform on the big stage. The young side is led by Muhammed Nemil, who first caught the eye of Sunil Chetri with a dream goal at the last edition of the Durand. Phrangki Buam and Ayush Chetri also add a lot of solidity to the line-up.
“We look forward to launching our Durand Cup campaign on Tuesday. They may have done their homework, but so have we, and our focus is all on ourselves and what we can do to get a good result,” Cardozo said. “It’s important to start the tournament on a positive note, with a good result, and we’re hoping for that on Tuesday. Playing the game in front of fans gives us extra motivation.”
Mohammedan Sporting, on the other hand, have retained the core of last year’s squad, with Trinidadian goalscorer Marcus Joseph still leading the lines. Milan Ongnam in midfield and Abhishek Ambekar will bring the experience, while the likes of Tajikistan international Nuriddin Davronov will bring in the likely X-factor.
Probably starting XI
Mohammedan sport: Sankar Roy (gk), Samad Ali Mallick, Wayne Vaz, Shaher Shaheen, Abhash Thapa, Milan Ongnam, Nuriddin Davronov, Christy Davis, SK Faiaz, Azharuddin Mallick, Marcus Joseph
FC Goa: Hrithik Tiwari (gk), Aditya Salgaonkar, Lesly Rebello, Rayan Menezes, Deeshank Kunkalikar, Ayush Chhetri, Lalremruata HP, Muhammed Nemil, Delton Colaco, Phrangki Buam, Mevan Dias.
(With PTI inputs)