By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Tribhuvan Army Football Club (TAFC) faced a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Chennaiyin FC during the ongoing Durand Cup 2023.
After sharing the spoils with Delhi FC in their initial encounter, the Army squad found themselves unable to thwart the offensive prowess of Chennaiyin FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Monday. The victory propelled Chennaiyin FC into the knockout stage from Group ‘E’.
Meghraj KC’s squad faced a setback in the 23rd minute as Faruk Choudhary of Chennaiyin FC successfully found the back of the net, setting the tone for the match. Later, in the 40th minute, Rahim Ali confidently converted a spot-kick to further extend Chennaiyin’s lead, putting them up by two goals at halftime.
Chennaiyin FC, entering the second half with a comfortable advantage, continued their onslaught. Rafael Schuler Crivellaro added the finishing touch in the 84th minute, securing Chennaiyin’s spot in the knockout stage.
Looking ahead, Tribhuvan Army FC is set to face Hyderabad FC on the 22nd of August. In order to progress to the knockout stage, the Nepali departmental side must secure a victory against Hyderabad FC. However, a twist in their fate looms should Delhi FC manage to triumph over Chennaiyin FC on August 18, rendering Army’s potential victory over Hyderabad inconsequential and leading to their exit from the tournament.
The current Group ‘E’ standings display Chennaiyin FC at the summit with 6 points from 2 matches. Delhi FC trails behind with 2 points, while Hyderabad and Tribhuvan Army FC occupy the third and fourth spots, each holding a single point.
