Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 31: In a thrilling encounter at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Samaleswari Sporting showcased their prowess with a decisive 4-1 victory against Baghpat FC during a Group B match of the 135th Durand Cup.

Basit Ahmed Bhat made a significant impact in the second half, scoring two goals, while Marat Tareck and Gnohere Krizo contributed with first-half goals for the Odisha team. Crispin Cleetus managed to score the only goal for Baghpat FC, as reported by a press release.

After a narrow loss in their opening match, Samaleswari Sporting bounced back strongly, marking their first win of the tournament and keeping their hopes for qualification alive. Conversely, this defeat left Baghpat FC, who are making their debut in the Durand Cup, with two consecutive losses.

Both teams adopted a classic 4-4-2 formation, with Samaleswari Sporting pairing Gnohere Krizo and Marat Tareck in attack, while Baghpat FC relied on Senthamil S. and Piyush Sikarwar to spearhead their offense.

The match kicked off with high intensity, as both teams sought to capitalize on every opportunity. Samaleswari struck first in the 10th minute through a rapid counter-attack. Rashid M. sprinted down the right wing and delivered a pass to Krizo, whose close-range shot was parried by the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Marat Tareck, who easily tapped it into the net, giving the Odisha side an early advantage.

Baghpat FC responded with an equalizer in the 30th minute. Piyush Sikarwar set up Crispin C. Cleetus, who unleashed a spectacular left-footed shot from outside the box, finding the top corner and leveling the score.

However, Samaleswari regained the lead just before halftime. A long free-kick from Basit Ahmed Bhat struck Krizo and looped over the Baghpat goalkeeper Ayan Bhattacharya, restoring the lead for the Odisha team.

The second half was dominated by Samaleswari Sporting, who controlled the game and dictated the pace. Their efforts paid off in the 56th minute when Basit Ahmed Bhat scored again, finishing off a corner from substitute Veer Arjun Joshi to extend the lead to 3-1.

Just five minutes later, Basit completed his brace, scoring a header from a well-executed short corner routine involving Veer Arjun Joshi and Cris Nowang Sherpa, making it 4-1.

With a comfortable lead, Samaleswari slowed the game down, maintaining possession and thwarting Baghpat's attempts to mount a comeback, limiting them to few chances in the final third.

In the 90th minute, Samaleswari nearly added a fifth goal when Armand Bazie attempted a long-range shot, but it narrowly missed the target. The Odisha team successfully managed the five minutes of added time to secure a convincing victory.