FC Goa joins Mohammedan Sporting and Bengaluru FC with three points in Group A, even though the latter have a game in hand. Jamshedpur FC is the other team in the Group. The top two teams from each Group qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Kerala Blasters and Sudeva FC game at the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium which follows the FC Goa-Indian Air Force game on Matchday 4, will see both teams making a first appearance in this year's tournament while it will be their second overall appearance at the Durand Cup.
The Gaurs took the lead against Mohammedan SC in their opening match on Tuesday before a second-half blitzkrieg helped the Black Panthers take home the three points.
Three first-half goals by Jerry Mawihmingthanga (14', 38'), Nandhakumar Sekar (26'), and as many goals in the second half by substitutes Isak Vanlalruatfela (81'), Diego Mauricio (88'), and Thoiba Singh (90+1')
Earlier this year, the Islanders scripted history at the 2022 AFC Champions League, becoming the first Indian club to win a game in Asia's premier club competition
Muhammed Nemil opened the scoring with a beautiful outside-the-box finish (34') but three second-half goals from Pritam Singh (49'), Faslu Rahman (84'), and a stoppage-time goal from skipper Marcus Joseph (90+3') were enough to seal the deal for the night.
The Gaurs arrived at Kolkata for the tournament on Sunday ahead of the club's third campaign at the Durand Cup, having previously played in the 2019 and 2021 editions. So far, the club have remained unbeaten in the tournament and would look to extend their solid run.
FC Goa, who are also the defending champions of the Durand Cup remain unbeaten in the competition, having competed in two editions of the tournament in 2019 and 2021.
Chess legend Viswanathan Anand along with officials of the All India Chess Federation and teams from FIDE, Africa, America, Europe and Asia took part in these matches on Thursday