Punjab FC staged a remarkable comeback in their concluding Group C match of the 133rd Durand Cup, securing a thrilling 3-0 victory over Mumbai City FC. The match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium witnessed a late flurry of goals, with Norwegian forward Mushaga Bakenga emerging as the hero. He struck twice, including a penalty in the 90th minute, while Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzljak also found the back of the net.
Mumbai City FC, who fielded a young side predominantly from their reserve team, were unable to match the intensity of Punjab FC. The win propelled Punjab FC to a seven-point tie with Kerala Blasters in the group standings. However, Kerala Blasters topped the group due to a superior goal difference, securing their place in the quarterfinals. Punjab FC, on the other hand, remains the best second-placed team in the tournament and will await the outcomes of other matches to confirm their spot in the knockout stages.
In another Group D encounter at the JRD Tata Sports Complex stadium in Jamshedpur, Chennaiyin FC emerged victorious against Assam Rifles Football Team, winning 2-1. The match witnessed a late turnaround, with Jefferson Nongrud putting Assam Rifles ahead in the 76th minute. Romario Jesuraj equalized from a penalty in the 89th minute before Praful secured the winning goal for Chennaiyin FC in the last minute of injury time. The result left Chennaiyin FC in third place with three points in their group, while Assam Rifles finished last with no points.
