KOLKATA: When East Bengal FC and Gokulam Kerala FC faced each other last time in Durand Cup — back in 2019 in a pre-Covid world, the Kozhikode-based side stunned the home team in semifinals via a penalty shootout and then beat Mohun Bagan on way to clinching their first ever trophy since having come into being two years earlier.
Both teams have undergone a sea change since then and none has any survivor of that match. However, East Bengal — now playing in the Indian Super League — will again have the home advantage and a bit of momentum as they face the former I-League champions in the second quarterfinal of the Durand Cup at the Salt Lake Stadium on Friday.
If Gokulam’s progress to the knockout stage as Group C champions was somewhat sullied by their loss to Bengaluru FC in the last match, Emami East Bengal — under new Spanish coach Carles Cuadrat — look a different beast. They won the group at Mohun Bagan SG’s expense while ending their winless run against the arch-rivals for over four years in the process.
Cuadrat, however, is cautiously optimistic, looking to keep their momentum going.
“The stakes are obviously higher in the knockouts, but I believe in taking one match at a time. We faced some strong opponents in the group stage, and doing well against them has boosted our confidence,” Cuadrat said on Thursday.
“Gokulam were the champions of their group, so a tough match awaits us,” the Spaniard added.
With newcomers Saul Crespo, Javier Siverio and Borja Herrera as well old horse Cleiton Silva promising to gel together and Nandhakumar Sekar and Mahesh Naorem Singh ready to scorch the flanks, Cuadrat has his arsenals ready to deliver the goods.
If East Bengal plan to clinch the issue within regulation time, avoiding a 2019-like setback, Gokulam Kerala are also preparing to put up a good fight.
Terming East Bengal as a “big team,” Gokulam coach Domingo Oramas stressed on the balance between defence and attack to see through the challenge.
“We will play against a big team, ISL players and in their city. We need to be compact in defence and brave and be attacking to do a good performance,” he said.
NEUFC in semifinals
NorthEast United FC beat Indian Army FT 1-0 to become the first team to reach the semifinals.
Following a barren first half, Phalguni Singh broke deadlock for the home team at Guwahati’s Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in the 51st minute.
NEUFC will take on the winners between East Bengal and Gokulam Kerala in the last-four stage.
