134th Durand Cup: Clayton Silva’s Four-Goal Show Leads Diamond Harbour FC to 8-1 Rout Over BSF FC

Kolkata: Brazilian striker Clayton Silva delivered a sensational performance, scoring four goals (2’, 35’, 71’, 90+3’) to lead Diamond Harbour FC to a dominant 8-1 victory over BSF Football Club in a Group B encounter of the 134th Durand Cup at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on Friday.

Slovenian forward Luka Majcen added a brace (7’, 39’), while Paul (53’) and Jobby Justin (67’) also found the net, as Diamond Harbour registered their second consecutive win in the tournament. BSF FC’s only goal came in the 90th minute, courtesy of Kishori.

With this emphatic win, Diamond Harbour FC climbed to the top of Group B with six points and a +7 goal difference from two matches, ahead of their crucial clash against Mohun Bagan on August 9.

The I-League 2 champions wasted no time making an impact—Silva opened the scoring in the second minute with a composed finish from a Jobby Justin cross. Luka Majcen doubled the lead in the seventh minute, slotting home after a scramble in the BSF box.

Though BSF tried to mount a response, they struggled to control the midfield and contain the relentless attacking trio of Silva, Majcen, and Paul. In the 35th minute, Silva volleyed in his second goal from a Girik cross, and just four minutes later, Majcen made it 4-0 with a well-placed shot off a lofted ball from Silva.

BSF’s best first-half chance came in the 43rd minute, but Diamond Harbour keeper Susnata Malik denied Kishori with a sharp save. The first half ended with Diamond Harbour firmly in control, leading 4-0.

The second half saw more of the same dominance. Paul made it 5-0 in the 53rd minute with a precise low shot. BSF’s defense continued to crumble, and Jobby Justin added a sixth goal in the 67th minute with a thunderous header from Samuel’s corner.

Silva completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a failed clearance during a corner. BSF managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Kishori, who finished a pass from Harmandeep.

However, the final word belonged to Silva, who scored his fourth goal in stoppage time with a powerful strike from outside the box, sealing an 8-1 triumph.

With inputs from IANS