NorthEast United beat FC1 3-1 at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium to finish Durand Cup Group F unbeaten
NorthEast United FC defeated FC1 3-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Tuesday, completing a perfect Group F campaign in the 135th Durand Cup and advancing to the quarter-finals. Parthib Sunder Gogoi scored twice and Alaaeddine Ajaraie added the third as NorthEast finished the group stage with three wins from three.
Juan Pedro Benali rotated his squad, making 10 changes to the starting XI with Spanish midfielder Antonio Moyano the only player retained from the previous match; Etyan González Morales and Eneko Satrústegui Plano earned their first starts for the club. FC1, described as the Jammu & Kashmir side in the report, ended their debut Durand Cup campaign with three points from three matches. Mohmad Ilyas’s 71st-minute strike provided FC1 a late goal but did not prevent NorthEast completing the sweep.
The match’s opening incident came inside seven minutes when Robin Yadav handled a corner in the penalty area and FC1 were awarded a spot-kick. Mousa Ahmed Quersehi took the penalty, but K. Mohanraj — making his NorthEast debut — produced a low diving save to his left to keep the score level.
Just two minutes after the missed penalty, NorthEast moved quickly from defence into attack; Moyano found Jithin M.S., who sent a low cross across the six-yard area and Parthib timed his run to arrive unmarked at the back post and slot home. FC1 controlled the ball for much of the opening 25 minutes, winning four corners, but NorthEast maintained a compact mid-block and avoided pressing high, which limited clear chances for the visitors.
Nine minutes after the interval NorthEast doubled their lead from a set piece as Moyano’s dangerous free-kick found Eneko’s header into the crowded box and Parthib reacted fastest to finish through traffic. Substitute Lalrinzuala then threatened on the counter after a Jithin cross and later forced a save from FC1 keeper Aftab Ashraf when played through by Ajaraie.
Ajaraie had earlier opportunities — Ashraf failed to gather a cross leaving an open goal that Ajaraie could not convert and then produced a left-footed effort that was saved — before Parthib threaded a precise through ball that allowed Ajaraie to calmly chip the goalkeeper and make it 3-0. The goal brought Ajaraie’s tournament tally to six.
FC1 reduced the deficit in the 71st minute when Mousa Ahmed Quersehi supplied a through ball to Mohmad Ilyas, who stayed onside and finished calmly to make it 3-1. NorthEast introduced fresh legs thereafter, retained control in midfield and denied FC1 sustained momentum as they saw out the final stages to secure the win.
The victory confirmed NorthEast United as Group F winners and booked their place in the Durand Cup quarter-finals, while FC1 concluded their debut campaign with three points from three matches.