NorthEast United FC etched its name on the winner’s plate of the Durand Cup as it won the 133rd edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament by overpowering defending Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-3 via a tie-breaker, at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday.
Mohun Bagan established a two-goal lead in the opening half but NorthEast fought back after the break, scoring two goals in three minutes to make it 2-2 at the end of the regulation time.
AS IT HAPPENED: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs NorthEast United, Durand Cup 204 final Highlighta
With no extra time allotted, the match went straight into penalty shootouts where NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh made two saves to turn the tables on Mohun Bagan and secure the maiden Durand Cup crown for his side.
Gurmeet Singh made two crucial saves as NorthEast United won its first trophy since its inception 10 years ago. | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri/The Hindu
It was a moment of great jubilation for a handful of NorthEast United supporters, including team owner and actor John Abraham, who had travelled all the way to see the Highlanders win its first trophy 10 years after their inception.
On the other hand, for some 50,000 supporters of the home team, it was a heartbreak as their side, which had a 7-2 advantage in the head-to-head analysis prior to this meeting, failed to win the trophy a record-extending 18th time.
The opening session belonged to Mohun Bagan as it secured a two-goal lead with strikes from Jason Cummings – off a penalty – and Sahal Abdul Samad.
Jason Cummins celebrates scoring the first goal in the Durand Cup Final against NorthEast United FC. | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri/The Hindu
The change of ends saw a remarkable transformation in NorthEast United’s performance as the Highlanders mounted repeated attacks and stunned the Mohun Bagan defence in the 55th minute.
The Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie found Mohun Bagan’s net with a rasping right-footer that caught Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith napping.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie scores the first goal for NorthEast United. He later assisted the second goal as the Highlanders came from behind to ultimately win the match on penalties. | Photo Credit: Durand Cup Media
Keeping up the aggression, the Highlanders found the equaliser three minutes later when substitute Guillermo Fernandez volleyed home a pin-point accurate cross from Ajaraie.
The hard work on the creative front was carried all along by Jithin M.S., the nippy winger who emerged as the most competent midfielder for NorthEast, assisting the attack with uncanny regularity.
Jithin, who was later awarded the golden ball for providing the most assists in the tournament, released Ajaraie in the right position to score NorthEast’s first goal.
Jithin MS received the Golden Ball during the post-match presentation ceremony for his consistent attacking prowess as a midfielder for NorthEast United, at the Durand Cup 2024. | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri/The Hindu
NorthEast could easily have wrapped up the final in regulation time but Kaith made two valiant saves to keep the score tied till the end.
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.
Mohun Bagan had won both the quarterfinal and the semifinal via penalties but saw its luck running out in the final against NorthEast.
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