August 21, 2025

Diamond Harbour FC created magic on Wednesday by beating East Bengal 2-1 in the Durand Cup semifinal, a dream debut for the newcomers! The stage is now set for an exciting final against NorthEast United FC. The match was thrilling from start to finish. The Diamonds started strong, with Joby Justin almost scoring close to the 20-minute mark, but East Bengal's goalkeeper Prabhsukan Gill stopped the attempt easily. East Bengal then pushed harder, with Anwar Ali close to scoring in the 22nd minute. East Bengal finished the first half with power. A Mahesh cross allowed Diamantakos to head the ball, but it went out. Then, in added time, a shot from the Manipuri hit the bar — just missing a goal. In the second half, East Bengal kept the pressure on. Bipin took a close shot over the goal. Coach Vicuna brought fresh legs—Girik Khosla, Melroy Assisi, and Angousana replaced some key players to turn the game around. But, magic struck when Diamond Harbour’s Mikel Idiakez scored a spectacular back-heel volley! Paul’s free-kick caused confusion as Anwar Ali tried to clear with his head. The ball floated near goal, and Idiakez, with his back to the net, executed a perfect back-volley to give Diamond Harbour the lead. East Bengal’s Anwar Ali quickly responded with a breathtaking strike. He picked up the ball deep in his half, dashed forward alone, and fired a thunderous 40-yard shot. But goalkeeper Mirshad managed to deflect it into his own net, leveling the score. With the game heating up, Vicuna brought on Moroccan Basim Rashid, hoping to break the deadlock. But Diamond Harbour had the final say. After an Angousana corner, a scramble inside the box ended with Joby Justin calmly tapping the ball into the net, sealing a 2-1 victory for the Diamonds. This win sends Diamond Harbour FC to their first-ever Durand Cup final, a huge achievement for the debutant team. Fans can now look forward to a thrilling finale against NorthEast United FC!

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Tags: Diamond harbour fc, East bengal, Durand cup 2025, Mikel idiakez, Joby justin, Northeast united fc,