East Bengal FC edged past Namdhari FC in a thrilling Group A encounter at the 134th Durand Cup, thanks to a debut goal from Moroccan striker Hamid Ahadad, sealing a hard-fought 1-0 win. With this crucial result, the Red and Gold Brigade not only maintained their perfect start to the tournament but also moved closer to a spot in the quarterfinals.
Held at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday, the match was a test of nerves and resilience, especially against a well-organized Namdhari FC side that frustrated East Bengal for long spells.
East Bengal Dominate First Half but Frustrated by Heroic Goalkeeping
East Bengal’s head coach Oscar Bruzon made strategic changes to his starting lineup following their emphatic 5-0 win against South United. Four new players were introduced: goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Miguel Figueira, Dimitrios Diamantakos, and Bipin Singh. The strategy was clear – go all out in attack.
From the first whistle, East Bengal dominated possession and launched waves of attacks. But Namdhari goalkeeper Niraj Kumar had other ideas. He single-handedly kept his team in the match during a relentless first-half onslaught.
In just the 9th minute, Niraj rushed off his line to deny Diamantakos a clear scoring opportunity. Moments later, he intercepted a threatening pass from Bipin Singh that was meant for Saul Crespo.
The pressure from East Bengal intensified, with Mohammed Rashid sending a thunderous strike in the 17th minute that forced another reflex save from Niraj. Midfielder Miguel Figueira came closest, hitting the post twice — first from long range and then from a close-range header.
As if fate wasn’t favoring East Bengal, Miguel also struck the crossbar with a powerful header in the 42nd minute, marking the third time East Bengal hit the woodwork in the first half. Despite their dominance, the scoreline read 0-0 at halftime — a testament to Niraj’s incredible performance and Namdhari’s deep defensive structure.
Hamid Ahadad Breaks the Deadlock and Seals Victory

In the second half, East Bengal continued where they left off — dominating play and searching desperately for a goal. Diamantakos managed a weak shot on target in the 52nd minute, which Niraj collected comfortably. Namdhari, who were mostly pinned back, had their only real opportunity when Dharmpreet Singh fired wide.
Sensing the need for fresh legs and attacking flair, Oscar Bruzon brought on debutant Hamid Ahadad in the 61st minute, replacing Diamantakos. The substitution turned out to be a masterstroke.
Just seven minutes after coming on, Ahadad found himself in the right place at the right time. A well-delivered corner by Miguel Figueira caused confusion in the Namdhari box. Niraj, for once, misjudged the flight of the ball, and Ahadad headed home unmarked at the far post, giving East Bengal a deserved 1-0 lead in the 68th minute.
The Moroccan forward’s debut could not have been scripted better, and the stadium erupted in celebration. His goal proved to be the decisive moment in a match where East Bengal created plenty but struggled to convert.
Namdhari, to their credit, kept pushing until the final whistle but couldn’t breach the East Bengal defense. Despite the loss, they are still in contention for a knockout spot with two wins from three matches. The tournament rules allow the two best second-placed teams across groups to qualify for the next round, keeping their hopes alive.
Group A Standings After the Match:
Team | Matches | Wins | GD | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
East Bengal | 2 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
Namdhari FC | 3 | 2 | +3 | 6 |
South United | 3 | 0 | -9 | 0 |
East Bengal now sit top of Group A with 6 points from 2 matches and a goal difference of +6. They are favorites to finish first and qualify directly for the quarterfinals. Namdhari FC, despite the setback, have six points from three matches and could still progress depending on other group results.
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FAQs
Who scored the winning goal for East Bengal against Namdhari FC?
Hamid Ahadad, the Moroccan striker, scored the only goal of the match on his debut in the 68th minute.
What was the final score between East Bengal and Namdhari FC?
The final score was East Bengal 1-0 Namdhari FC in a tightly contested Group A match.
Where was the match between East Bengal and Namdhari FC played?
The match took place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata.