SLFC 0-3 NEUFC Highlights, Durand Cup 2024 Semifinal: NorthEast United enters maiden final with win against Shillong United

And that’s that! NorthEast United FC makes history as it reaches its maiden Durand Cup final after convincingly beating Shillong Lajong at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Monday.

And the substitute surely wraps up the game for his team! Parthib Gogoi runs down the left flank, keeps on going, and calmly slots the ball past the goalie and into the net.

Ronney is given marching orders.

A clash between the substitutes. Kynsailang is fouled by Parthib, with the latter being shown a yellow card.

Tondonba, Parthib Gogoi on.

Thoi Singh, Samte off.

Time running out for the host as coach Jose Carlos Hevia brings on Kynsailand and Gladdy on in place of Aman and skipper Hardy.

Goalscorer Ajaraie comes off for Hamza.

Streaks of red can be seen in the middle of the park with players trying to charge towards NorthEast’s box, throwing in the kitchen sink with a hope to get back into the game. The Highlanders are equal to their intent, defending with all that they have.

Wadajied comes off for Sangti.

Ajairaie is looking hungry for another goal as he showcases his strength there, fending off a couple of Shillong Lajong players to create space for himself to let fly a thumping shot that whizzes past the goal.

Redeem Tlang and Guillermo Fernandez come on.

Jithin MS and Nestor come off.

While the 100-200 fans of NorthEast United FC are clearly outnumbered in the JLN Stadium, they are having a merry time with their side sitting on a comfortable lead.

The away side look to wrap up the game with another goal as it starts off the second half with a certain ease to its game.

Sana, Hame off

Figo, Damait on

The second half of the Durand Cup 2024 semifinal between Shillong Lajong and NorthEast United is underway.

At the lemon break, NorthEast United sits comfortably with a two-goal lead courtesy strikes from Thoi Singh and Ajaraie. Host Shillong Lajong looked threatening in the first 10 minutes or so but conceding the goals seems to have sucked out the intent from the players in red.

The intent which the host showed in the opening minutes seems to have fizzled out. The two goals are bound to have hurt the morale of the men clad in red. The men in white look to add another as the side continues to attack the opponent’s box.

Confusing times in the game. Initially, Ajaraie looked onside, after completing a brilliant timed run, beating the offside trap, taking a touch and shooting it at goal. However, he could only find the upright, but the ball found its way back to him and he made no mistake that time.

Ajaraie’s happiness was shortlived after the assistant referee raised the flag. NEUFC players ran up to the official, pleading the case. Crystal John was shown in that crowd, and shortly after, he blew the whistle to say that the goal stands.

Ajaraie’s happiness was restored as he went on to celebrate.

Wadajied tests the gloves of Gurmeet, who stays alert and saves the attempt from the Lajong player, that was arriving at some pace with some help from a deflection off a NEUFC player.

The replay shows Ronney coming in with a crunching tackle as he swings his leg and gets a big part of Jithin MS’s shin as the latter falls to the ground, visibly in pain and clutching his shin. No card shown for that.

Pin drop silence, at least from the home side fans.

It’s Thoi Singh who slides in to see off a Jithin MS cross, who received the ball courtesy a sumptuous Ajaraie backheel flick, to give NorthEast United an early lead in the semifinal!

Everbrightson Sana falls to the ground inside the box, asking for a penalty. Instead, referee Crystal John brandishes a yellow card and adds the Shillong Lajong player to his book.

Samte sees yellow after he fouls Buam, whose quick feet is too much for the NorthEast player there.

While the action is end-to-end, nothing is materialising on either end.

While the host team has already shown its intent by winning a couple of corners early on in the game, the visiting side too showed a glimpse of its pacy frontline that could cause serious problems, especially against the run of play.

The Durand Cup 2024 semifinal between Shillong Lajong and NorthEast United is underway at the JLN Stadium in Shillong.

NorthEast United is clad in white, while host Shillong Lajong is dressed in its red colours, a shade that the whole stadium is donning at this match.

Be it an Arsenal jersey or flags painted with ‘Shillong Lajong’, you can see the support for the home side in the stands of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

Shillong Lajong FC: Manas Dubey (GK), Ronney Willson, Kenstar Kharshong, Aman Ahlawat, Daniel Goncalves, Hardy Cliff, Wadajied, Hame Wahlang, Everbrighton Sana, Marcos Rudwere, Phrangki Buam

NorthEast United FC: Gurmeet (GK), Dinesh Singh, Miguel Zabaco, Asheer, Samte, Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Nestor Roger, Muthu Mayakkannan, Thoi Singh, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Jithin MS

Despite being the sole I-League side left in the competition, Shillong Lajong has proved that it can punch above its weight, shocking Kolkata giant East Bengal FC in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, NEUFC will boast of a better head-to-head record against Shillong Lajong, but cannot leave anything to chance as it faces a daunting task in its second consecutive attempt to reach the final of Asia’s oldest existing football tournament.

READ MORE:

Durand Cup 2024: A North East derby in semifinal as Shillong Lajong and NorthEast United lock horns to secure final ticket

Shillong Lajong FC will look to continue its dream run and secure a ticket to the Durand Cup 2024 final when it locks horns with NorthEast United FC in the semifinal tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Monday.

The match action can be caught LIVE on the Sony Sports Network and the SonyLIV platform. Moreover, stay tuned to Sportstar’s website and app for the latest updates.