Jamshedpur FC produced a stunning second-half performance to register a commanding 6-0 victory over Indian Air Force FT in their final Group C fixture of Durand Cup 2026 at Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi on Thursday.

Raynier Fernandes opened the scoring for the Red Miners in the fourth minute before 17-year-old Lawmsangzuala took centre stage after the break. The youngster struck twice before Aman C.K. added Jamshedpur’s fourth goal. Lawmsangzuala then completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute, while Rayan C. rounded off the emphatic win with a sixth goal.

The victory took Jamshedpur FC into contention for a quarterfinal berth as one of the best second-placed teams. Its place in the knockout stage was subsequently confirmed after the final group-stage match later in the evening.

Jamshedpur FC is playing its final tournament as a professional club after the Tata Group, the team’s owner, announced its decision to shut down the club earlier this month.

In the concluding Group E fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC played out an entertaining 3-3 draw. The result saw Lajong secure the point they needed to finish top of the group.

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Lajong dominated the first half and went into the break 2-0 ahead, with Brazilian forward Joao Morais scoring both goals. Langsning responded strongly after the restart seeing Kyrmenskhem Mukhim and Wadajied Kynsai finding the net to bring the score level at 2-2 by the 63rd minute.

Lajong regained the lead through Everbrightson Sana in the 82nd minute, but Langsning, who needed a victory to top the group, continued to push forward. Their persistence paid off when Syed Ahmed scored in stoppage time to make it 3-3. Lajong grittily defended for the rest of the added time to ensure the draw.

The draw left Shillong Lajong at the top of Group E with seven points from three matches, while reigning Shillong Premier League champion Langsning FC finished with five points and was eliminated.

Meanwhile, local boy and former India international Halicharan Narzary produced a sensational individual performance, scoring four goals and providing two assists as Bodoland FC thrashed local rival Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 6-0 in their final Group F fixture at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

Narzary scored twice in each half, while Kaushik Daimari and Gwgwmsar Gayary also found the net after the break as Bodoland FC secured a commanding victory. Despite the emphatic win, Bodoland FC missed out on a quarterfinal berth.

The six group winners — Mohun Bagan SG, Indian Army FT, Sporting Club Delhi, Manipur’s FC Raengdai, Shillong Lajong FC and NorthEast United FC — secured automatic qualification for the quarterfinals. A dramatic four-way tie then emerged on six points for the two remaining quarterfinal places reserved for the best group runners-up. East Bengal FC, with a +12 goal difference, and Jamshedpur FC, with +10, secured the two available knockout berths.

Samaleswari Sporting Club and Bodoland FC narrowly missed out after finishing with inferior goal differences (+3 goals each).

In a curious tradition followed by the organisers every year, the quarterfinal fixtures were decided later, although the dates for the four matches had already been fixed for August 16 and 17.

Published on Aug 13, 2026