The airmen

Indian Air Force Football Team: East Bengal started their campaign in the 133rd Durand Cup, with a comfortable 3-1 victory over the Indian Air Force Football Team (IAFFT) in a Group A encounter played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) here on Monday.

The Airmen took the lead against the run of play in the 19th minute through Somananda Singh, but goals from David Lalhlansanga, Dimitrios Diamantakos and Saul Crespo, gave a comfortable victory to last year’s runners-up, as they went on top of the group standings over their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

East Bengal FC Head Coach Carles Cuadrat named a strong starting eleven with new signings Madih Talal, Jeakson Singh, David Lalhlansanga and Mark Zothanpuia making their debut for the Kolkata giants along with star names like Naorem Mahesh Singh, Hijazi Maher and Saul Crespo. Indian Air Force Head Coach Priya Darshan fielded a young starting lineup with the experienced duo of Arashpreet Singh and Vivek Kumar on the bench.