Federation Cup: Complete fixtures are out

The 32nd Federation Cup, India’s version of the FA Cup, will be played from September 21 to October 2 across three venues. Unlike in the last few years the Federation Cup’s final round will not be held as a one venue as a 16 team league-cum-knockout tournament. This time around the four groups of four teams each have been divided to be held at three venues – Cuttack, Ludhiana and Vasco, Goa. Orissa’s Cuttack will host two of the group plus also the semifinals and the final.

The qualifiers will be held from September 14 to 18 in Silchar, Assam and Mapusa, Goa. And one team from each qualifying group will make it into the tournament proper, where they would face the I-League sides.

In Group A defending champions East Bengal Club take on Air India, Pune FC and HAL in Cuttack. Group B will be played at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco and it would see Churchill Brothers, Chirag United, Viva Kerala and the qualifier from Group B in action. In Group C JCT has home advantage in Ludhiana as they face I-League champions Dempo SC, ONGC and the India Junior XI; while Group D would also be played in Cuttack where Mohun Bagan take on Salgaocar SC, Mumbai FC and the qualifier from Group A.

The semifinals will be played on September 29 and 30, while the grand finale has been fixed for October 2. These three matches to decide the eventual champions will be held at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

The Qualifiers

Group AVenue: Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium, Silchar (Assam)15-Sep-10: Oil India Limited – Mohammedan Sporting Club (Match 1)16-Sep-10: NISA, Manipur – Shillong Lajong FC (Match 2)18-Sep-10: Winner Match 1 – Winner Match 2

Group BVenue: Duler Ground, Mapusa (Goa)14-Sep-10: Vasco SC – Sesa Football Academy (Match 1)15-Sep-10: Sporting Clube de Goa – Malabar United FC (Match 2)17-Sep-10: Winner Match 1 – Winner Match 2

Quarterfinal League

Group AVenue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack (Orissa)

21-Sep-10: East Bengal Club – Air India21-Sep-10: Pune FC – HAL23-Sep-10: Air India – Pune FC23-Sep-10: HAL – East Bengal Club25-Sep-10: East Bengal Club – Pune FC25-Sep-10: HAL – Air India

Group BVenue: Tilak Maidan, Vasco (Goa)

21-Sep-10: Qualifier Group B – Chirag United SC21-Sep-10: Churchill Brothers SC – Viva Kerala23-Sep-10: Viva Kerala – Chirag United SC23-Sep-10: Qualifier Group B – Churchill Brothers SC25-Sep-10: Viva Kerala – Qualifier Group B25-Sep-10: Chirag United SC – Churchill Brothers SC

Group CVenue: Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana (Punjab)

21-Sep-10: Dempo SC – ONGC21-Sep-10: JCT – India XI23-Sep-10: India XI – Dempo SC23-Sep-10: ONGC – JCT25-Sep-10: India XI – ONGC25-Sep-10: JCT – Dempo SC

Group DVenue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack (Orissa)

22-Sep-10: Mohun Bagan AC – Qualifier Group A22-Sep-10: Salgaocar SC – Mumbai FC24-Sep-10: Qualifier Group A – Salgaocar SC24-Sep-10: Mumbai FC – Mohun Bagan AC26-Sep-10: Salgaocar SC – Mohun Bagan AC26-Sep-10: Qualifier Group A – Mumbai FC

SemifinalsVenue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack (Orissa)29-Sep-10: Winner Group A – Winner Group B30-Sep-10: Winner Group C – Winner Group D

FinalVenue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack (Orissa)02-Oct-10: Winner SF 1 – Winner SF 2