India: Mohun Bagan, United on the hunt again for Durand Cup honours
Current Indian Super League and League Shield winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant started off their Durand Cup campaign on the right foot with a 3-1 win over Mohammedan in Group B.

The record 17-time Cup winners played with 10 men in the second half after midfielder Apuia was sent off, but still managed to score twice after the break.

 

The other Group B match saw Diamond Harbour thrash Border Security Force 8-1.

 

NorthEast United defeated ATM FA 3-1 in Group E to make a winning start to their title defence.

In Group A, Namdhari beat Indian Air Force 4-2 while Nepal Army played out a 1-1 result with Ladakh in Group C.

Bodoland FC beat Karbi Anglong 2-1 in Group D, with the latter going down to Punjab by a similar scoreline in their following match. Indian Navy defeated Real Kashmir 2-1 in their Group F match.

The 134th edition of the Durand Cup hosts 43 matches, culminating with the final on August 23. It features 24 teams from the ISL, I-League and the Armed Forces, with teams divided into six groups in a single round-robin match in the pool stage.

The six group leaders and two best second-placed sides from all groups will make the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for August 16 and 17.

Bhutan: Paro stay on course
Paro FC extended their winning streak to 10 matches in the Bhutan Premier League after back-to-back wins.

The defending champions came from behind to beat RTC 2-1 and then defeated Ugyen Academy 3-2 to top the standings with maximum points at the league’s halfway mark.

Thimphu City, six points behind Paro, consolidated their second place with a thrilling 5-3 win over Tsirang.

BFF Academy, meanwhile, halted their three-match winless run with a 6-1 win over Tensung.

Kyrgyz Republic: United bounce back
Muras United shook off their previous week’s defeat to beat Neftchi Kochkor-Ata 4-1 in the Kyrgyz Republic Premier League.

The leaders, whose defeat to Oshmu-Aldier last week was only their second of the season, were four up by the 63rd minute and allowed their opponents a consolation goal in the 85th minute.

FC Bars Issyk-Kul climbed from fourth to second after a 2-0 win over Alga Bishkek while

Dordoi Bishkek and Alay Osh both dropped points after their 1-1 tie.

United now have 35 points after 15 matches, two clear of Issyk-Kul and three of both Alay Osh and Dordoi Bishkek, in third and fourth respectively.

In other matches, current titleholders FC Abdysh-Ata rebounded from three winless matches to overcome Kyrgyzaltyn 6-2. FC Ozgon beat Talant 2-0 while Oshmu-Aldier romped to a 3-1 win over Ilbirs Bishkek FC.

Asiagoal Bishkek defeated bottom club Bishkek City 3-2.

Uzbekistan: Nasaf have eyes on target
FC Nasaf continued their march towards a second successive Uzbekistan Super League title with a 2-1 win over Sogdiana.

The table-toppers, undefeated in 16 matches with 36 points, scored in the sixth minute through Khusayin Norchaev and went two up in the 27th via an own goal by Otabek Akhadov. Rubin Hebaj pulled one back for Sogdiana in the 58th minute.

The four teams chasing the leaders - Bunyodkor, Neftchi Fergana, FC AGMK and Dinamo Samarkand - are all on 30 points after 16 matches.

Bunyodkor leapt from fourth to second with a 2-1 win over Fergana, who slipped from second to third. FC AGMK moved up one rung to fourth after defeating Buxoro 2-0 while Samarkand fell from third to fifth with their 2-2 stalemate against Navbahor Namangan.

Other matches saw 16-time champions Pakhtakor beat FC Mash'al 1-0 and Andijan hand Kokand 1912 a 3-0 defeat.

Bottom club FC Shurtan, who have only won two of their games, fell 3-1 to Khorezm Urgench while FC Surkhon and Qizilqum Zarafshon battled to a goalless draw.

Turkmenistan: Arkadag a class above
FC Arkadag turned on the power in the second half to score three goals in their 4-0 Yokary Liga win over a hapless FC Ashgabat, who have yet to win in eighth straight matches.

 

The defending champions have blown past their opponents this season, winning all 15 of their matches and scoring 59 times. They are currently 17 points clear of second-placed FC Ahal.

Jordan: Al Hussein off to fine start
Al Hussein opened their defence of the Jordan Premier League title with a 5-2 win against Al Ahli on Friday.

 

Chasing a third successive title, Mohammad Al Razem's own goal put Al Hussein ahead in the 33rd minute with Waseem Al Riyalat netting their second seven minutes later.

Mohamad Haddad reduced the deficit three minutes before the break with Mohammad Al Shatti restoring parity from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.

Al Hussein, however, turned on the power in the final minutes with Luis Kacorri putting them ahead again in the 76th minute. Mohammad Khaled Deeb then netted twice in two minutes at the end to complete the resounding win.


In other matches, Al Ba'qa defeated Sama Al Sarhan 2-0, Al Faisaly beat Al Jazeera 2-1 while Al Ramtha edged last season's runners-up Al Wehdat 1-0. Al Salt and Shabab Al Ordon settled for a goalless draw.