Mohammedan Sporting in line for second Durand Cup title

Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata kept themselves in line for their second Durand Cup football tournament title as they beat Mumbai Tigers 3-1 to storm into the final here on Monday.

Mohammedan Sporting, who are playing in the I-League beginning on Saturday, dominated the first semi-final match as they led 2-0 at half time in front of a sizeable crowd at the Ambedkar Stadium.

The club, which has a good fan following in the Old Delhi area, scored through Penn Orji (2nd minute), Collin Abranches (45+1) and Antony Soren (65th).

For Mumbai Tigers, who recently pulled out of the I-League at the last minute, Bikash Jairu scored the lone goal in the 82nd minute.

In the summit clash on Thursday, Mohammedan Sporting play the winner of Tuesday's second semifinal between Indian Navy and ONGC.

Mohammedan Sporting had won their maiden Durand Cup title in 1940 here, becoming the first Indian team to win the world's third oldest football tournament which started in 1888. They lost in the final on three occasions -- in 1959 and 1980 against Mohun Bagan and in 1992 against JCT Mills.