This Saturday (August 31, 2024) is set to be the biggest day in the life of Guwahati based Indian Super League club NorthEast United FC (NEUFC), after they quelled the spirited challenge of local favourites Shillong Lajong FC (SLFC) 3-0, in the first semi-final of the 133rd Durand Cup here at the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium. Two first-half goals by Thoi Singh and Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie and a strike in added time of the second by Parthib Gogoi, did the job for the Highlanders, as they scripted a piece of club history by making their first ever Durand Cup final. It will in-fact be a first big final of a national tournament for them since inception.
A crowd of over 15,000 mostly partisan home fans were silenced early as both changes made to the Highlanders starting line-up by Spanish coach Juan Pedro Ben Ali made immediate impact with Thoi getting on board after a well-worked move in the 13th minute of the game and Ajaraie scoring in the 33rd, courtesy a wonder-ball from Spanish playmaker Nestor Roger.
Shillong gave a good account of themselves thereafter, but players like Mohammed Ali Bemammer in the Highlanders midfield helped them control the game before Parthib, brought in late by Ben Ali, delivered the icing on the cake with a mostly solo effort, three minutes post regulation time.
The Highlanders did well to find an early goal thereby silencing the home fans. Samte it was who took the throw-in from the left flank finding Ajare inside the box, whose delectable back-heel put Jithin on his bike. The lanky winger drove towards the backline and delivered a telling cross which Thoi stabbed home with clinical precision.
Lajong tried to fight back and a long ranger by Wahlang dipped viciously forcing Gurmeet in the NorthEast goal to hurriedly parry it away. The Highlanders clearly needed a second for insurance.
It came thanks to Nestor, who managed to bisect the Lajong back two in the air to find Ajarie’s run to perfection. The Moroccan brought it down beautifully with his left and chipped it over keeper Manas, but the ball struck the right upright and came back. He was fortunate to have a second grab at it and this time made no mistake to double the lead.
The officials had initially ruled the goal out for offside but did well to make the right decision in the end.
Post the break, the game seemed to drifting a little and Ben Ali it was again who rang in the changes as Jose Hevia, Shillong’s Spanish coach kept faith in the same set of players who had begun the quarter-final game against Emami East Bengal. He did bring the young Sangti on though after Ben Ali had made a double change at the hour mark.
Shillong did try their best but the Highlanders held tight in defence and continued to be dangerous in attack. Parthib Gogoi in the end did justice to a ball by fellow substitute Hamza for a convincing score line.
