Debutant 1 Ladakh FC made a dream start to its maiden Durand Cup campaign after holding seasoned Nepalese side Tribhuvan Army FC to a 1–1 draw in a hard-fought Group C encounter at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.
Tribhuvan head coach Megh Raj K.C. made three changes to his starting line-up, bringing in goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu, Aviskar Khadka and Nirajan Dhami in place of Samit Shrestha, Aayush Timsina, and Nawayug Shrestha. Ladakh boss Rajan Mani fielded a strong eleven in a 4-3-3 formation with the trio of Kamalesh, Ajay and Bhaaranyu, leading the attack.
Defender Siju headed in the opener in the 23rd minute to script history as the first-ever Ladakhi player to score in the iconic tournament, before Tribhuvan Army’s Nirajan Dhami equalised with a calm finish just before the break.
Tribhuvan dominated possession during the opening exchanges but struggled to create clear-cut chances until the final 20 minutes. By the 35th minute, Tribhuvan grew into the game and, in the 40th minute, Nirajan Dhami delivered a composed finish, tapping in a through ball following a swift counterattack to level the score and execute a trademark ‘Siu’ celebration.
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The second half began with Tribhuvan pushing forward with urgency, dominating possession and setting the tempo. Their midfield began to dictate the play, creating multiple half-chances through both flanks. Despite the pressure, 1 Ladakh’s defence remained resolute, anchored by a disciplined backline and sharp goalkeeping.
While the Nepal side came close on a couple of occasions, most notably with a curling effort that narrowly missed the post, it failed to convert its chances. Ladakh showed grit and heart, ensuring the game ended in a well-earned 1–1 draw.