Durand Cup 2024 Final Highlights: NorthEast United beats Mohun Bagan 4-3 in penalty shootout after MBSG 2-2 NEUFC in regulation time

Golden Boot: Noah Sadaoui win the highest goalscorer in this edition of the Durand Cup 2024, with two hat-tricks, against Mumbai City FC and CISF Protectors. He gets five lakh rupees as cash prize.

Golden Glove: Gurmeet Singh wins the joint-best goalkeeper award, with three clean sheets and a brilliant performance in the final.

Best Player: Jithin MS gets the award for the best players, with a cash prize of five lakh rupees.

NorthEast United beats defending champion Mohun Bagan to win the Durand Cup 2024 in the heart of Kolkata. What a win for Gurmeet, what a win for Benali and what a win for the visiting side, which has produced quality results with limited resources this season.

NorthEast United beats Mohun Bagan SG to win Durand Cup 2024

The penalty shootouts saw NorthEast United steal a page from Mohun Bagan’s book as Gurmeet denied Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose on their turns to initiate the victory celebrations for the visitor.

Subhasish Bose steps up for NorthEast United and Gurmeet saves this one too! And NorthEast United wins its first-ever trophy, the Durand Cup, in Kolkata.

Petratos converts for Mohun Bagan while Ajaraie also scores for his side, NEUFC.

Liston Coalco steps up for the third penalty and his shot to the left is saved by Gurmeet.

Parthib Gogoi takes the third spot-kick for NEUFC. Kaith goes the right way but fails to stop the bullet of a hit.

Manvir Singh sends Gurmeet to the other side and rattles the net to score the second penalty for Mohun Bagan.

Zabaco steps up for NEUFC and sends Kaith to the other side with a left-footed hit into the net.

Mohun Bagan scores: Cummings steps up for the penalty and shoots it over the net. But the referee asks the kick to be taken again and this time, Cummings converts the penalty. Gurmeet dives to the other side.

NorthEast United scores: Gulliermo scores for the Highlanders, finds the top-left corner.

The captains of both sides get together for the toss and the end, Mohun Bagan’s end, is decided as the end where the shootout will happen. 

NorthEast United has made a strong bid for a comeback, scoring two goals in three minutes and making it level, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. 

NorthEast United gets into the final third to attack on the counter, with Ajaraie crossing from the left. Bose heads it out but it falls for Albiach, who tries to hit on the volley but completely misses it.

Petratos gets takes the ball, drifts to his left and shoots from distance. The right-footed hit flies just wide to the relief of NorthEast United fans as Mohun Bagan fans keep their hands behind their heads in depair.

Asheer Akhtar looks to be losing his discipline as he fouls Petratos from the back and the referee shows him the yellow card.

NorthEast United gets a free-kick 24 metres from goal and Albiach takes the free-kick -- a left-footed hit, which is controlled easily by Vishal Kaith.

Parthib Gogoi, one of India’s most promising youngsters has taken the pitch and Benali will look to make the most of his pace in the final stages of regulation time.

‘NorthEaast United looks to change its personnel at the back as Dinesh Singh comes off for Robin Yadav.

Mohun Bagan looks to be choked out of its tempo at the moment, as NorthEast is marching forward, winning the second balls and trying to find the coveted leading goal.

Guillermo gets the ball in the penalty box and wards off Aldred to try another shot. But lack of force in it sees Kaith get hold of it comfortably and match pauses for the second cooling break.

As the play looks to get into the final quarter. some players receive treatment for cramps and Benali looks to be plotting continuously to try and find the third goal.

Mohun Bagan looks for an adept reply, with Bose switching play, crossing to Petratos on his right. Petratos beats his marker and shoots with his left foot but the ball lands safely into the gloves of Gurmeet Singh.

The HIghlanders attack with a long throw, with Asihs Rai’s failed headed clearance falling for Jithin. Jithin takes a right-footed shit on the volley, which is on target but Kaith matches the attempt with an equally good reflex block.

In about 20 minutes of action in the second half, it has been NorthEast United all over the host side, with at least two corner from each side and, two goals to make it all square, from Ajaraie and Guillermo.

NorthEast United is playing with a whole different level of confidence now, playing overlaps, getting into the final third and challenging Kaith .

Super sub Guillermo, who had taken the pitch after the restart, makes a run into the right, gets a cross and hits on the volley to rattle the net to make it all square.

Jithin MS continues to be the biggest headache for Mohun Bagan as he strolls into the final third with the ball, draws defenders towards him and then sets up Ajaraie on his left. Ajaraie shoots with his right foot and catches Kaith napping.

NorthEast United gets a corner kick, which Albiach takes and the ball is headed out of the Mohun Bagan box. Albiach receives it with his right foot, beats Colaco’s attempt to stal the ball and takes a left-footed shot from distance, with the ball flying over the net.

Jithin gets another chance in front of Vishal Kaith, with the ball almost falling in front of him. But Mohun Bagan’s defence tracks back on time and blocks his shot before it could go to Kaith.

NorthEast United attacks on the counter with Jithin trying a scissor kick, which bounces and lands into the gloves of Vishal Kaith.

NorthEast United starts the second half, with hopes of redemption while Mohun Bagan replaces Sahal with its star forward Petratos to seal the win sooner than later.

Sahal Abdul Samad and Jason Cummings find the net as Mohun Bagan Super Giant go into the break with a comfortable two-goal margin in Kolkata.

Liston Colaco carries the ball along the left, keeps drifting to his right and then crosses for Sahal, who was closing in. Sahal hits it with his first touch and Mohun Bagan widens the lead.

Liston Colaco gets the ball from the left and just when he tries to take a shot, NorthEast United steals the ball away. The corner that follows is also clears by the Highlanders.

NorothEast United has not thrown the towel after conceding the early penalty and, with an entire half remaining, the match remains very much an open contest. 

NorthEast United almost beats Kaith with the bounce, and just when Ajarie could have headed the ball past Kaith, the MBSG goalkeeper intercepts on time to put the chance to bed.

Apuia gets the ball along the left and tries to set up Sahal. Sahal, marked tightly, switched play to cross the ball to Manvir, who shoots on target, forcing a save by Gurmeet.

It looks like another forced change in the match as a Mohun Bagan player, Alberto Rodriguez, is now subbed off and Asish Rai takes his spot.

Cramps have been a common thing in Indian domestic football and it will be interesting to see whether it was the pitch, the heat of external factors that have see two foreigner leave the pitch with mid-game injuries.

Apuia goes to ground after a challenge off Mayakannan. The referee immediately books the player as the India midfielder, Apuia, gets back to his feet after a few seconds.

Mohun Bagan tries to absorb the pressure from Jithin as he is left chasing shadows amidst the one-touch passes of the host side. As the ball reaches Kaith, he clears it out of danger, keeping Jithin away.

The chance finally happens for NorthEast United, with Bemmammer coming off for Albiach as the Spaniard looks to plan a comeback against the Mariners in this summit clash.

The match enters the 30th minute and the teams take the first cooling break of the match. This is the first match after group stages, in this Durand Cup, that Mohun Bagan is ahead, with the goal coming from Cummings.

Bemmammer looks to be struggling with his left hamstring and is not in a condition to continue in this match, Nestor Albiach will be the players replacing him.

However, the Moroccan refuses to come off. He requests the coach to give him some time and the substitution will not take place for now.

NorthEast United fans are not keeping calm. Their club has reached the Durand Cup final for the first time and despite being a goal down, they know a comeback is very much possible.

NorthEast United comes close to scoring as Jithin gets a cross from his right and heads it on target. But Vishal Kaith makes a regulation save at his near post. The corner kick that follows has Mohun Bagan hoof the ball out of danger.

Greg Stewart wins the ball along the left flank, beats his marker and then gets awfully close to the goalkeeper. He tries to beat Gurmeet with a dink, but ends up shooting too strongly, over the net.

Mohun Bagan tries an overload in the midfield, with Alberto trying to stretch NEUFC’s defence, with a pass to Manvir, who tries to draw defenders towards him to release Cummings. But he fails to geta grip on the ball as it rolls out of play.

NorthEast United goes for an attack,with Jithin MS making a foray into the final third but Alberto marks him well enough to ward off another attack.

Jason Cummings steps up for the penalty and aims for the right-bottom corner. He sends the goalkeeper the other way and the ball hits the inside of the woodwork to then get into the net, giving Mohun Bagan the lead.

Asheer Akhtar pulls Sahal in the penalty box and the referee points to the spot. Penalty for Mohun Bagan!

Mohun Bagan is now slowly pressing higher and higher up the pitch with usual suspect Liston Colaco making runs into the final third and tries a shit, which ends in the side-netting.

Mohun Bagan is looking to absorb pressure quickly as NorthEast United enjoys possession in the Mohun Bagan half. It whips in a cross from the right but Bose heads it out of danger.

Jithin MS carries the ball along the left flank, beats his marker and then tries to cross into the centre. But Alberto clears the ball away through a crucial interception. 

Greg Stewart gets the ball rolling at the Salt Lake Stadium and it is NorthEast United which tries to begin with an attack but Kaith controls the ball easily.

The players pose for team photos before kick off, with captains of both teams shaking hands and deciding on who will start the game. Only a matter of time that the final begins!

As the fans trickle into the stadium, the players warm up in what is expected to be a sell-out crown in Kolkata. With a few minutes left for kick-off, the players complete their last-minute preparations and return to the dressing room to get ready for kick-off.

“We have come to enjoy the final. We will try to do our best while playing against a very good team. We have nothing to lose and we will try to give out absolutely everything. We do not want to keep anything in the dressing room.”

- Juan Pedro Benali, NorthEast United coach

“NorthEast is a very good team. We have seen that throughout the tournament. They have good wingers. But we have full confidence in our boys and we will give our best on the pitch tomorrow.”

- Jose Molina, Mohun Bagan coach

Juan Pedro Benali, who is from Madrid, has been with the Highlanders from last year, and came close to taking them into the Indian Super League knockouts, only to lose to Chennaiyin.

He now has a chance to make amends with a silverware up for grabs this evening. 

Dimitri Petratos, Mohun Bagan’s hero in the previous Durand Cup final, is starting from the bench while Greg Stewart returns to the starting XI. In the semifinal, the two were swapped with Petratos starting against Bengaluru FC.

NorthEast United has decided to start with Jithin and Bemmammer, two of its most important players in this campaign while Netor Albiach, the final member of its attacking troika, starts from the bench.

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Mohun Bagan topped its group to qualify for the quarterfinals and then beat Punjab FC and Bengaluru FC in the penalty shootout to qualify for the Durand Cup 2024 final.

Defending champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant will seek to extend its record haul of 17 titles when it takes on the first-time finalist NorthEast United FC in the title clash of Durand Cup 2024, at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday. 

The road to the final has seen contrasting stories for the finalists with NorthEast United riding on a series of confident performances, winning all its five outings since the group league stage in regulation time. 

Mohun Bagan, on the other hand, averted defeats by managing late equalisers and won both the quarterfinal and the semifinal in the penalty shootouts.

Read the full preview below:

Durand Cup 2024 final: Mohun Bagan eyes record title in a battle of contrasts against NorthEast United

Despite investing hugely in high-profile acquisitions – Jamie Maclaren, Greg Stewart – this season, Mohun Bagan appears to be still in the building process this season.