NorthEast United come from 2-1 down to beat Shillong Lajong 5-2 and reach Durand Cup semi-finals
NorthEast United FC came from 2-1 down to defeat Shillong Lajong FC 5-2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday and reach the semi-finals of the 135th Durand Cup. Alaeddine Ajaraie scored a hat-trick as the Highlanders netted four times in the second half to overturn the deficit.
The quarter-final, played in heavy rain, featured a Northeastern derby atmosphere and saw NorthEast United, the defending champions, advance to a fourth consecutive Durand Cup semi-final while maintaining their bid for a third straight title. With the Highlanders joining Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Sporting Club Delhi and East Bengal FC, the last-four line-up for the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup is complete.
Conditions made for a difficult opening, the surface slick under torrential rain, but NorthEast United had an early chance in the seventh minute when Eneko Satrustegui headed narrowly wide from an Antonio Moyano corner. The breakthrough came in the 11th minute when Redeem Tlang’s long ball released Alaeddine Ajaraie, who finished beyond the advancing defender to put the visitors ahead.
Shillong Lajong responded and levelled in the 20th minute through Figo Syndai, who found space in the final third and finished clinically. NorthEast United threatened on the counter when Jithin M.S. narrowly missed, but Shillong regained the lead in the 34th minute as Jota rounded Gurmeet Singh to make it 2-1 at half-time.
NorthEast United emerged from the break with increased tempo; the equaliser arrived in the 55th minute when Etyhan Jesus Gonzalez Morales finished a flowing move to make it 2-2. Three minutes later Ajaraie struck again to put the Highlanders 3-2 ahead, completing a rapid turnaround that shifted control decisively to the visitors.
Juan Pedro Benali injected fresh attacking options with the introductions of Parthib Sundar Gogoi and Nikola Ninkovic as NorthEast United extended their lead. In the 69th minute Jithin M.S. released Ajaraie into space and the Moroccan completed his hat-trick to make it 4-2; Jithin then finished another move in the 79th minute to make the score 5-2. Robin Yadav and Lalrinzuala were later introduced as Benali managed the closing stages, and the match also saw the competitive debut of Pramveer, who came on for Asheer Akhtar.
The win sends NorthEast United into the Durand Cup semi-finals, where they will face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Shillong on 20th July, completing the tournament's last-four fixtures alongside Sporting Club Delhi and East Bengal FC.
