PV Vishnu strike and Lachenpa save propel East Bengal into Durand Cup 2026 semifinals
East Bengal FC defeated Indian Army FT 1-0 in the Durand Cup quarter-final at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on August 16, 2026, with PV Vishnu scoring the solitary goal in the 38th minute. The Red & Gold will meet SC Delhi on August 19, 2026, in the semi-final at the same venue.
East Bengal made eight changes to their starting lineup for the quarter-final, introducing three foreign signings — Basim Rashid, Chris Ikonomidis and Dani Ramirez — who all played their first match in a Red & Gold shirt. Boris Singh and Narender Gahlot also earned debuts, with Boris Singh arriving from FC Goa, while former Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa started between the posts for the defending ISL champions.
The match offered chances for both sides early on. In the sixth minute Dani Ramirez was denied by Malla Thakuri after a move that began with PV Vishnu lofting the ball to David Hmar and ended with Ramirez missing a clear opportunity. Shortly after, Indian Army’s Pawar Abhishek Shankar fired from distance and Lachenpa made a save inside the first 25 minutes.
East Bengal took control in the closing stages of the first half and opened the scoring in the 38th minute. From the centre of the pitch Dani Ramirez fed Chris Ikonomidis, the new Australian winger noted in the report as having once scored against Manchester United, and Ikonomidis set up PV Vishnu, who slotted the chance calmly to give the home side the lead.
In the second half East Bengal adjusted their attack: PV Vishnu was replaced by Bipin Singh to overload the right side, while Edmund Lalrindika and Jesin TK came on for Chris Ikonomidis and David Hmar. The replacements created several opportunities, but the visitors’ goal remained elusive; Dani Ramirez had what the report called the best conversion chance of the match in the 65th minute, receiving a free ball but lofting his effort wide.
Chances continued to flow for East Bengal later in the half. At the 79th minute Jesin TK missed a clear chance following a through ball from Basim Rashid, and Bipin Singh was unable to finish another opening created by Jesin’s run into the box. Indian Army produced a strong second-half fightback, testing East Bengal’s defence repeatedly.
East Bengal held on when it mattered: in the additional five minutes Pawar Abhishek Shankar struck again but Phurba Lachenpa made a crucial save to preserve the 1-0 result. With that victory East Bengal advance to the Durand Cup 2026 semi-finals to face SC Delhi on 19 August 2026 at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata.