ONGC beats Indian Navy 1-0, enters Durand Cup final

Henry Ezeh after scoring the solitary goal in his team's ONGC win over Indian Navy, during the 126th Durand Cup Football tournament at Ambedkar stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo Rajeev Bhatt

ONGC on Tuesday booked their maiden Durand Cup football tournament final after they prevailed over Indian Navy 1-0 in a hotly-contested second semi-final match here.

Striker Henry Ezeh scored the match-winner in the 53rd minute at the Ambedkar Stadium.

ONGC play Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata in the summit clash on Thursday to be played under floodlights starting at 5.45 p.m.

Indian Navy dominated the possession but could not penetrate ONGC’s well-organised defence. ONGC used a lone striker, Nigerian Henry Ezeh, and he got good support from the flanks.

New recruit Lavino Fernandez’s cross from the left in the 53rd minute led to a goalmouth scramble and Ezeh found the net as Indian Navy defenders struggled to clear the ball. Despite Indian Navy’s constant pressure, the goal proved decisive.

In the 79th minute, ONGC defender Karan Atwal was red-carded by referee Ratheesh Kumar, when he was slapped with his second yellow card. But ONGC organised their defence well and held on for the remainder of the match to enter the final.