4th EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup: BNR champions

Calcutta Premier Division side Bengal-Nagpur Railways caused a major upset by winning the 4th E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup title by beating I-League side Air India 3-2 at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode. The fourth edition of the E.K. Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup was held from March 9 to 21 in Kozhikode with eight teams having taken part in this edition.

The trophy once more travels to Kolkata as BNR replace Prayag United SC as the new champions. The minnows from Kolkata surprised everyone by first making it through the group stage ahead of Kerala XI and MEG, Bangalore and then scoring two upset wins against I-League sides from Mumbai. It is BNR’s first major All-India trophy in years.

FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group AKerala XI; Air India; MEG, Bangalore; Bengal-Nagpur Railways

09-Mar-2012: Kerala XI 2-2 Air India11-Mar-2012: Air India 2-1 MEG, Bangalore11-Mar-2012: Kerala XI 1-1 Bengal-Nagpur Railways13-Mar-2012: Bengal-Nagpur Railways 1-3 Air India FC13-Mar-2012: MEG, Bangalore 5-3 Kerala XI15-Mar-2012: MEG, Bangalore 0-1 Bengal-Nagpur Railways

Group BMumbai FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Southern Samity, Army XI

10-Mar-2012: Mumbai FC 2-1 Army XI12-Mar-2012: Shillong Lajong FC 1-1 Mumbai FC14-Mar-2012: Shillong Lajong FC 2-0 Army XI14-Mar-2012: Southern Samity 1-3 Mumbai FC16-Mar-2012: Southern Samity 1-0 Shillong Lajong FC17-Mar-2012: Army XI 0-1 Southern Samity

Semifinals18-Mar-2012: Mumbai FC 2-3 Bengal-Nagpur Railways19-Mar-2012: Air India 5-1 Southern Samity

Final21-Mar-2012: Bengal-Nagpur Railways 3-2 Air India