Federation Cup: I-League champions Bengaluru FC and record winners Mohun Bagan in same group
The 2014-15 Federation Cup draw was conducted on Thursday in New Delhi with I-League holders Bengaluru FC and 13-time record Federation Cup champions Mohun Bagan being placed in the same group.
Ten I-League clubs were part of the draw with newcomers Kalyani Group and defending champions Churchill Brothers not in it. The ten teams were divided into two groups of five with the top two to reach the semi-finals. Goa will be hosting the competition.
Clubs from the same state were purposefully kept in different groups but since Goa had three teams, one of the groups has two Goan clubs.
Besides Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan, Group B comprises Salgaocar, Pune FC and Shillong Lajong in what looks the tougher of the two groups.
Group A has eight-time winners East Bengal, Mumbai FC, Dempo, Sporting Clube and newly-promoted Royal Wahingdoh.
Each of the Group A matches will be at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Margao while Group B fixtures will be staged at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco.
The tournament starts from December 28, eight days after the final of the inaugural edition of the Indian Super League, while the final is scheduled for January 10.
The fixtures will be finalised soon.
GROUP A: Mumbai FC, Royal Wahingdoh, Dempo FC, East Bengal, Sporting Clube de Goa
GROUP B: Bengaluru FC, Salgaocar FC, Pune FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Mohun Bagan
Fixtures
GROUP A (all matches to be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium): Mumbai FC, Royal Wahingdoh, Dempo FC, East Bengal, Sporting Clube de Goa
December 28, 2014: Mumbai FC vs Royal Wahingdoh
December 29, 2014: Dempo vs East Bengal
December 30, 2014: Mumbai FC vs Sporting Clube de Goa
December 31, 2014: Royal Wahingdoh vs East Bengal
January 1, 2015: Dempo SC vs Sporting Clube de Goa
January 2, 2015: Mumbai FC vs East Bengal
January 3, 2015: Sporting Clube de Goa vs Royal Wahingdoh
January 4, 2015: Dempo SC vs Mumbai FC
January 5, 2015: East Bengal vs Sporting Clube de Goa
January 6, 2015: Royal Wahingdoh vs Dempo SC
GROUP B (all matches to be played at Tilak Maidan, Vasco): Bengaluru FC, Salgaocar FC, Pune FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Mohun Bagan
December 28, 2014: Bengaluru FC vs Salgaocar SC
December 29, 2014: Pune FC vs Shillong Lajong FC
December 30, 2014: Bengaluru FC vs Mohun Bagan
December 31, 2014: Salgaocar SC vs Shillong Lajong FC
January 1, 2015: Pune FC vs Mohun Bagan
January 2, 2015: Bengaluru FC vs Shillong Lajong FC
January 3, 2015: Mohun Bagan vs Salgaocar SC
January 4, 2015: Pune FC vs Bengaluru FC
January 5, 2015: Shillong Lajong FC vs Mohun Bagan
January 6, 2015: Salgaocar SC vs Pune FC
Semifinals -- January 8, 2015 (Both matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao):
Semifinal 1: Winner Group A vs Runners-up Group B
Semifinal 2: Winners Group B vs Runners-up Group A
FINAL – January 10, 2015 (Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium)