Injury-hit East Bengal will have to overcome stiff challenge from resurgent Prayag United SC when the two local teams lock horns, in what promises to be a thrilling second semifinal contest of the 33rd Federation Cup in Kolkata, on Sunday.
East Bengal's chance to stay in contention for the title race ended after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Dempo FC in the 25th round of the I-League played at Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Saturday.
His goals enabled East Bengal down HAL 4-1 in a National Football League match.
A 3-2 victory kept the IFA Shield winners on top of the National Football League.
The Kolkata giants will be strong favourites when they taken on Army XI in the final on Friday.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) tweeted, "Real Kashmir FC have withdrawn from AIFF Super Cup 2025-26, as VISAS for their foreign players could not be secured. They will be replaced by Dempo SC."
They topped their respective groups after beating Dempo and Vasco respectively in the Durand Cup.
AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal suffered a jolt ahead of their big match next week as they were beaten by former champions Dempo 3-1 in Kalyani on Thursday.
Favourites East Bengal paid heavily for defensive lapses as they lost by a solitary goal to Churchill Brothers in their opening encounter of the fifth edition of the I-League football tournament at the floodlit Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
'The jail staff told me Kasab was served only jail food and not biryani.' 'They told me that Kasab was beaten regularly after court proceedings.' 'And they filled Kasab's bottle with urine so that whenever he felt thirsty he used to drink urine.'
It's been eight months since East Bengal triumphed in the Federation Cup but the age-old Kolkata club is yet to get the prize money for winning the tournament, thanks to dilly dallying on part of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Churchill Brothers' efforts to regain the second spot in the I-League points table got a jolt as East Bengal came from behind to hold Churchill Brothers to a 2-2 draw at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress party for its alleged inaction in addressing Maoist violence during its long rule, while highlighting the Modi government's success in nearly eradicating Maoists from Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
Former champions East Bengal made a shock exit from the Durand Cup football tournament after a 0-1 loss to I-League newcomers Lajong FC, Shillong in a Group IV quarter-final league match at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday.
East Bengal's chances of progressing to the next round of the AFC Cup tournament received a further jolt when they were blanked 0-2 by Iraqi outfit Arbil SC in a Group B match in Kolkta on Wednesday. The Kolkata giants suffered their third successive defeat in the tournament having been beaten 0-1 by Al Orouba of Yemen and 0-3 by Kazma of Kuwait in their earlier group matches.
The Kremlin has announced it will not disclose data on crude oil exports to India, citing concerns about 'ill-wishers'. This decision follows reports of increased Russian oil supplies to India and China amid geopolitical tensions.
Abel Hammond struck a brace as a spirited East Bengal registered their biggest victory of this season, drubbing Lajong FC 3-0 in an ONGC I-league football match at Vidyasagar stadium in Barasat on Thursday.
Al Ittihad of Syria rode on a double strike by Abdulfatah Alagha and pumped in two goals in the dying minutes to drub East Bengal 4-1 in their Group D AFC Cup opening match at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Striker Robin Singh struck the match-winner as Bengal made a stunning second-half comeback to upset defending champions Bengaluru FC 2-1 in a high-profile I-League football clash, in Barasat, West Bengal on Sunday.
'He has agreed to play for us once he is back after a two-month stint with a Malaysian club,' team director Amit Sen said.
Chhetri was shown the first yellow in the 22nd minute after bringing down Anirudh Thapa, something he repeated on the same player after nine minutes to be sent off.
Heeding the desperate urges of their coach Tervor James Morgan, East Bengal picked up a win at the right time as they beat Mumbai FC 2-0 in a 16th round match of the I-League in Kalyani's Municipal Stadium, Kolkata on Sunday.
Title favourites East Bengal's nightmare in the return leg of the I-League continued as they lost to Shillong Lajong FC 0-1 in a 15th round encounter in Shillong on Saturday.
At a time when Indian football is seeking a radical overhaul, the Super Cup, starting in Goa from Saturday, could act as a catalyst for clubs to build their teams, prepare their players, get valuable match time, and keep their hopes of continental qualifications alive.
East Bengal kicked off the new season on a disastrous note as the Kolkata giants were knocked out of the IFA Shield following a shocking 1-3 loss to a young Tata Football Academy in a Group A tie at the Vidyasagar Krirangan in Barasat, West Bengal, on Thursday.
East Bengal on Friday showcaused their Brazilian striker Edmilson Marques who had a spat with coach Subhas Bhowmick that led to a scuffle with team-mate Saumik Dey inside the dressing room.
Benzema to stand trial in sex tape case, says lawyer.
The Indian Premier League 2026 schedule has sparked debate after Rajasthan Royals opted to play three 'home' matches in Guwahati, prompting criticism from Aakash Chopra and fans questioning the move.
Kuwaiti outfit Kazma scored in the dying minutes to register a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a 10-man East Bengal in their concluding Group B AFC Cup league match at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Wednesaday. The victory was enough to earn Kazma 11 points and a berth in the pre-quarter-finals.
Real Kashmir FC's upcoming home leg I-League fixture against East Bengal was Monday shifted to New Delhi in view of the prevailing 'uncertainity' in Srinagar.
North-East football giant Shillong Lajong came from behind to beat Kingfisher East Bengal 2-1 in a thrilling encounter, witnessed by more than 20,000 strong fans at the J N Stadium in Shillong on Saturday.
East Bengal started their AFC Cup campaign with a 0-1 loss to Lebanon's Safa Sporting Club.
Edmilson Marques scored twice as former champions East Bengal beat JCT 2-1.
Brazil's Sao-Paulo blanked East Bengal 3-0 in the first Super Soccer match.
Mike Okoro did the star turn for the Kolkata side as they beat Army X 3-0 in the final.
East Bengal, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC are the semifinalists.
Manchester United beat East bengal 5-0 in the lung-opener of under-15 Nike Manchester United Premier Cup.
Mumbai FC pulled out all the stops to score a well-merited come-from-behind 2-1 victory over a listless East Bengal in a 13th round I-League match at the Cooperage inMumbai on Saturday. They had earlier beaten the same opponents by a 1-0 margin in the first leg in Kolkata.
Cristiano Junior scored a brace as the Indian club strolled to an easy win.
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