Guwahati: The NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC) on Monday (August 26) quelled the spirited challenge of Shillong Lajong Football Club (SLFC), defeating the local favourites 3-0, in the first semi-final of the 133rd edition of Durand Cup, played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Meghalaya’s Shillong.
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 history by making it to their first-ever Durand Cup final.
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A crowd of over 15,000, mostly partisan home fans, were silenced early, as both changes made to the Highlanders starting line-up by its coach Juan Pedro Ben Ali, made immediate impact.
Thoi got 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.
SLFC gave a good account 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.
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The Highlanders did well to find an early goal thus silencing the home crowd. It was then Samte, who took the throw-in from the left-flank finding Ajare inside the box, whose delectable back-heel put Jithinon on his bike.
The lanky winger drove towards the backline and delivered a telling cross which Thoi stabbed home with clinical precision.
SLFC tried to fight back, and a long-ranger by Wahlang dipped viciously, forcing Gurmeet in the NEUFC goal to hurriedly parry it away.
The Highlanders clearly needed a second for insurance, which soon came from Nestor, who managed to bisect the SLFC 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, however 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 break, the game seemed to drift a little and Ben Ali again brought in a change in the form of Jose Hevia. Ben Ali kept faith in the same set of players who had begun the quarter-final game against Emami East Bengal.
Though SLFC did try their best, 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.