East Bengal’s defensive discipline faces its toughest test yet when they take on SC Delhi, the tournament’s most prolific attacking side, in the first semifinal of the 135th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Wednesday. Both sides have reached this stage through markedly different strengths, setting up a genuinely intriguing tactical battle for a place in the final.
East Bengal vs SC Delhi Fixture Details
Here’s what fans need to know before this semifinal clash.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Durand Cup 2026, Semifinal 1 |
| Date | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
(Source: Khel Now)
A Clash of Contrasting Strengths
The numbers heading into this semifinal paint a fascinating picture of two very different routes to the last four.
| Team | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Group Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Bengal FC | 14 | 1 | 2nd, Group A |
| SC Delhi | 21 | 3 | 1st, Group C (9 points) |
(Source: Sportstar)
East Bengal have conceded just once in four matches, that solitary goal coming in their opening 0-1 defeat to Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Since then, Antonio Lopez Habas’ side has kept three consecutive clean sheets, beating CISF Protectors 8-0 and South United FC 5-0 before edging Indian Army FT 1-0 in the quarterfinal. SC Delhi, meanwhile, have been the tournament’s most free scoring side, topping Group C with wins over Jamshedpur FC, Defenders FC and Indian Air Force FT before recovering from an early deficit to beat FC Raengdai 5-1 in the quarterfinal.
The Stakes: A Shot at Redemption and History
Both sides carry significant weight into this occasion.
East Bengal FC: Coming off a narrow 1-0 win over Indian Army FT in the quarterfinal, East Bengal didn’t play their perfect game but PV Vishnu’s solitary goal proved enough, with goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa making crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet. The squad looked tired after playing three matches in ten days, prompting head coach Antonio Lopez Habas to publicly criticise the scheduling as “stupid” and damaging to the quality of Indian football. Still, a dominant win here would send the Torchbearers to the final for the 27th time and further validate Habas’ system.
SC Delhi: Having thrashed Defenders FC 7-0 and Indian Air Force FT 7-1 in the group stage before beating FC Raengdai 5-1 in the quarterfinal, SC Delhi arrive full of attacking confidence. A win would send them to the final on their debut appearance in Asia’s oldest football tournament, a landmark achievement for a club still in its formative years.
East Bengal FC vs SC Delhi Team News
Here’s the latest on both squads heading into kickoff.
- East Bengal’s Spanish defender Nacho Monsalve is injured and will probably miss the match.
- PV Vishnu, East Bengal’s top scorer with four goals this tournament, is also injured and will miss the semifinal.
- Other than those two, East Bengal have a fully fit squad.
- SC Delhi should have a fully fit unit available for selection.
(Source: Khel Now)
East Bengal vs SC Delhi Head to Head Record
East Bengal and SC Delhi will meet for the first time in Durand Cup history, making this a genuinely fresh contest with no head to head history to lean on.
East Bengal FC vs SC Delhi Predicted Lineups for the Durand Cup Semifinal
Here’s how both sides are expected to line up in Kolkata.
| East Bengal FC (4-2-3-1) | SC Delhi (4-4-2) |
|---|---|
| Phurba Lachenpa (GK) | Nora Fernandes (GK) |
| Hardik Bhatt | Duvan Viáfara |
| Lalchungnunga | Ashutosh Mehta |
| Anwar Ali | Manoj Md |
| Sandip Mandi | Lamgoulen Gogou Hangshing |
| Mohammed Rashid | Lalrinliana Hnamte |
| Dani Ramirez | Juan Pena |
| Jeakson Singh | Mohammed Azhar |
| Edmund Lalrindika | Tomba Singh |
| Rohit Danu | Md. Aimen |
| Jesin TK | Rodriguinho |
(Source: Khel Now)
Worth noting PV Vishnu’s absence through injury is a significant blow, given he’s scored four goals this tournament including a hat-trick against CISF Protectors and the header that settled the quarterfinal. Rohit Danu and Jesin TK are expected to lead the line in his place.
East Bengal FC vs SC Delhi Players to Watch in the Semifinal
Two attacking outlets could prove decisive in this contest.
Dani Ramirez (East Bengal): The 34 year old Spanish midfielder has contributed both goals and assists this Durand Cup and could be East Bengal’s creative heartbeat against SC Delhi. His experience in midfield is a valuable asset in a high voltage semifinal, and his ability to exploit space behind SC Delhi’s attacking setup on the counter could prove crucial given how heavily SC Delhi have committed players forward in recent games.
Rodriguinho (SC Delhi): The Brazilian forward has emerged as SC Delhi’s biggest attacking threat with seven goals in the competition, including a five goal haul against Defenders FC and the goal that sealed their quarterfinal win over FC Raengdai. East Bengal’s defenders, including Anwar Ali and Sandip Mandi, cannot afford to give him space around the box given his red hot scoring form.
What Both Coaches Are Saying
Mohamad Basim Rashid spoke about the significance of the occasion for East Bengal, noting the club still regrets missing out on last season’s final and sees this as a brilliant opportunity to go a step further and win their first title of the season, while calling on supporters to turn up in numbers at Salt Lake Stadium.
SC Delhi head coach Tomasz Tchorz described the occasion as a historic achievement for a newly created club, with this potentially their first Durand Cup semifinal, while acknowledging the challenge and privilege of facing East Bengal in Kolkata, a city he called one of football.
Where to Watch East Bengal vs SC Delhi
Fans can catch the match through the following broadcast options.
- Streaming: Sony LIV
- TV: Sony Ten 2
(Source: Khel Now)
FootballMint’s Durand Cup 2026 live streaming and TV guide has the full broadcaster list for every fixture across the tournament.
East Bengal’s Defensive Wall Braces for SC Delhi’s Prolific Attack in a Historic Semifinal Clash
This semifinal brings together SC Delhi’s attacking fluency, built around Rodriguinho’s red hot scoring form, and East Bengal’s defensive organisation, which has yielded just one goal conceded all tournament. With PV Vishnu missing through injury, East Bengal will lean heavily on Dani Ramirez’s creativity and their compact defensive shape, while SC Delhi look to become the first club in their short history to reach a Durand Cup final. Whichever side prevails at Salt Lake Stadium will book their place in Asia’s oldest football final.
