Durand Cup 2026: NorthEast United into knockouts after 4-1 win over Karbi Anglong in Guwahati
NorthEast United FC defeated Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 4-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026, in the Durand Cup 2026 group stage. The defending champions recorded their second consecutive victory and have qualified from Group F for the knockout round.
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup began on July 25, 2026, with the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC and will conclude with the final on August 23, 2026, with matches staged across six venues including the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. NorthEast United opened their campaign with a 6-0 win over Bodoland FC in which Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored a hat-trick, and on August 8 Ajaraie added a brace as Macarton Nickson and newly recruited Spanish forward Ethyan Gonzalez also scored, Gonzalez netting his debut goal in the dying moments of the game.
In Group F, NorthEast United’s back-to-back wins have secured their passage to the knockouts and Ajaraie has five goals so far in the competition. Bodoland FC, after the 6-0 opening loss to the Highlanders, beat FC1 of Kashmir 3-0 and remain in contention for a best runner-up slot if they can add a sizable goal difference in their final match. FC1 of Kashmir won their first match 2-1 against Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC but then lost 3-0 to Bodoland FC in their second fixture.
Group E saw Shillong Lajong FC beat Mumbay FC 5-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026, a result that the report says has almost sealed their berth from Group E into the quarter-finals. Langsning FC beat Mumbay FC 5-0 in their opening match and then drew 2-2 with Nongkseh SS & CC; Nongkseh drew 2-2 with Langsning after scoring two late goals on August 6, 2026. Mumbay FC lost both of their first two group matches by 5-0 and have been eliminated from the tournament.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant have qualified as Group A toppers after a 1-0 win over East Bengal in the opening Kolkata Derby and an 8-0 victory against South United at the Salt Lake stadium; Manvir Singh scored a hat-trick, Suhail Bhatt a brace, Alberto Rodriguez and Rahul Bheke one goal each, and there was an own goal in that 8-0 win. South United had earlier beaten CISF 2-0 but succumbed to the Mariners’ 8-0 and then a 5-0 loss to East Bengal, resulting in their elimination. CISF Protectors, beaten 2-0 by South United and 8-0 by East Bengal, will face Mohun Bagan in their final group match.
Group B remains open with Indian Army FT registering consecutive wins — 1-0 against Samaleswari Sporting and 4-0 against Baghpat FC — and positioned as favourites to advance, though the Army must beat Mohammedan SC to confirm progression. Samaleswari Sporting, making their debut, finished with six points after defeating Baghpat FC 4-1 and beating Mohammedan SC 3-2 and currently top Group B. Mohammedan SC opened with a 4-0 victory over debutants Baghpat FC but then lost 4-3 to Samaleswari and need a win against Indian Army to stay alive; Baghpat FC have lost all their group matches and been eliminated.
In Group C, Sporting Club Delhi won 7-0 against Defenders FC and stand as front-runners to qualify after beating Jamshedpur FC in the first match and then Defenders by a large margin in their second. Jamshedpur FC had beaten Defenders 5-0 in their opener but lost to SC Delhi and must win their final game to remain in contention. Indian Air Force FT beat Defenders FC 2-1 and Defenders FC, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces side, have been eliminated after losing their matches. In Group D, FC Raengdai defeated Indian Navy FT 1-0 and are reported to have followed that with a 4-3 win over Neroca FC to qualify for the knockouts on their debut; Indian Navy recovered to beat Neroca 2-0 in Imphal on August 5, 2026, while TRAU FC drew with Neroca and lost to FC Raengdai, leaving Neroca bottom of the group.
Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC have been eliminated after consecutive defeats and will meet Bodoland FC on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the IGA Stadium in Guwahati with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 PM IST; NorthEast United will prepare for the knockout stage following their Group F qualification.