Mohun Bagan beat NorthEast United 4-3 on penalties to reach Durand Cup final

Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated NorthEast United on penalties at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday, August 20, 2026, after the Durand Cup semifinal finished 0-0 after regulation time. Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith made two decisive saves in the shootout as Mohun Bagan prevailed 4-3 to book a place in the final.

Mohun Bagan will face East Bengal FC in the Durand Cup final on Sunday, August 23, 2026, setting up a Kolkata Derby for the trophy. Wet conditions hampered both sides early on, preventing sustained passing sequences and prompting frequent long balls over the defensive lines. The opening period produced the first shot on target only midway through the first half when Liston Colaco’s free-kick forced a save from NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh.

The first half featured a series of near misses: Kiyan Nassiri’s tight-angled effort struck the side-netting after he elected to shoot rather than pass, while Alaaeddine Ajaraie’s volley from a set-piece delivery narrowly missed the post around the half-hour mark. Sahal Abdul Samad won possession in midfield just before half-time and attempted a long-range effort, but Gurmeet recovered to keep the attempt out. Both teams recorded three corners in the opening period without converting them into clear chances.

The second half maintained a similar pattern, with clear-cut opportunities scarce despite NorthEast United producing the more promising moves. Around the hour mark Alaaeddine Ajaraie failed to connect with a low cross from Abdul Rabeeh, and later Ajaraie’s delivery found Etyan Gonzalez whose header did not trouble the target. Macarton Nickson also had an effort from inside the box that hit the side-netting as NorthEast pressed for a breakthrough.

Mohun Bagan coach Panagiotis Dilimperis made two changes to his starting XI, bringing in Samir Zeljkovic in midfield in place of Anirudh Thapa and Kiyan Nassiri in attack for Dejan Dražić. NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali introduced Soraisham Dinesh Singh and Pramveer Singh, replacing Asheer Akhtar and Macarton Louis Nickson in his starting lineup.

The semifinal was decided by penalties after neither side scored in 90 minutes. Both teams converted their first three spot-kicks before Robin Yadav’s fourth for NorthEast United was saved by Vishal Kaith. Jamie Maclaren then converted for Mohun Bagan to give them the lead, and Kaith produced a second save to deny Parthib Gogoi and send Mohun Bagan through 4-3 on penalties.

Mohun Bagan progress to the Durand Cup final against East Bengal FC on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with the winner to be decided in that scheduled fixture.