Durand Cup: Ajaraie hat-trick propels NorthEast United to rout of Bodoland

Ajaraie scored a hat-trick as NorthEast United routed Bodoland in the Durand Cup. The defending champion scored five in the second period of play after the Moroccan striker put it ahead on the stroke of half-time.

NorthEast United entered the match as the tournament’s defending champion, facing Bodoland in a fixture that was decided emphatically after the interval. Ajaraie, identified as the Moroccan striker, produced the decisive breakthrough from the end of the first half. The outcome underlined a strong attacking display by the champions in the second period of play.

Ajaraie’s contribution included three goals, securing a personal hat-trick that featured the strike which put NorthEast United in front on the stroke of half-time. That late opening had the effect of swinging momentum firmly in favour of the defending champions. The timing of that goal proved significant as both teams walked into the break level and the visitors with a fresh target to defend.

After the interval, NorthEast United intensified their attack and added five goals in the second period of play. The surge of scoring in the latter stages turned the contest into a rout and left Bodoland unable to recover. The champions’ second-half performance was decisive in shaping the final margin.

The match showcased Ajaraie’s clinical finishing and the collective attacking strength of NorthEast United across the 90 minutes. The Moroccan striker’s opening on the stroke of half-time set the stage for the second-half outpouring that sealed the result. Bodoland were overwhelmed as the champions converted their superiority into multiple goals after the break.

The victory reinforces NorthEast United’s position as a potent attacking side in the Durand Cup, driven by Ajaraie’s hat-trick and a dominant second period. The defending champion’s five-goal spell after half-time was the defining feature of a one-sided encounter.