Rajasthan United have qualified for their maiden Durand Cup 2022 quarterfinal with a 2-0 win over Indian Navy on Monday. The win helped the I-League side tally seven points from four matches and tie with ATK Mohun Bagan in the second place of the group standings.
Earlier, they had defeated giants ATK Mohun Bagan in the tournament. It pipped the Kolkata giant on a better head-to-head record to move into the quarterfinals alongside Mumbai City FC, which topped the group on a better goal average.
Rajasthan United FC and Chennaiyin FC to quarterfinals
After playing a barren first half, Rajasthan United FC managed to beat the defensive organisation of the Indian Navy in the 73rd minute. The goal happened after the Navy goalkeeper V.K. Vishnu blocked a long-ranger from Rajasthan’s Raghav Gupta. Brazilian striker Sergio Barboza shot the rebound towards the goal before Lebanese forward Youssef Atriss ran in to help it home.
Rajasthan doubled the lead in the 89th minute when Barboza placed home a nice assist from Gyamar Nikum to complete the win.
Durand Cup rules
If two or more Participating Teams have obtained an equal number of points, the following criteria shall be applied to determine their ranking (in descending order):
(a) Higher number of points obtained in the matches between the Participating Teams concerned
(b) Superior goal difference resulting from matches between Participating Teams concerned. Goal difference shall be calculated by deducting goals conceded by respective Participating Team in the League Round from goals scored by them
(c) Goal difference in all the matches
(d) Higher number of goals scored in the League Round by the Participating Teams
(e) Drawing of lots.
Though three sides will ending up at seven points, Mumbai City FC and Rajasthan United FC had higher number of points in the matches involving the three sides. Rajasthan FC will face Hyderabad FC in the quarterfinal, the toppers of Group C.
On the other hand, Chennaiyin FC also booked a place in the knock-outs as it downed home favourite NEROCA FC 2-0 in the concluding Group C match at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. Needing a point from the match to progress to the next stage, Chennaiyin took the attack route right from the start and found the lead in the 15th minute off a goal from captain Anirudh Thapa. Chennaiyin tallied seven points to join leader Hyderabad FC (nine points) in the quarterfinals.
