NorthEast United FC back in Durand Cup final with a grinding win over Shillong Lajong

NorthEast United FC have confirmed their second consecutive final appearance in the Durand Cup.

Football is ultimately about the number of goals you score, regardless of how you have played. NorthEast United FC proved this in the semi-final against Shillong Lajong. The Highlanders didn’t let their underwhelming performance become a hurdle in their way. They have once again qualified for the Durand Cup final.

A narrow 1-0 win for NorthEast United was the conclusion of a hard-fought semi-final between NorthEast United FC and Shillong Lajong. A packed crowd of 14,119 saw Shillong Lajong go down against the Highlanders, once again. This is the fifth defeat in a row for the I League side against the defending Durand Cup champions.

So close yet so far

The first semi-final of the Durand Cup 2025 was a case of missed opportunities for the hosts, Shillong Lajong. This was a highly anticipated affair as it was a repeat of last year’s semi-final. Last year, NorthEast United thrashed Shillong with a 3-0 scoreline.

The I League side came to this semi-final with a resolve to avenge last year’s setback. The determination was there on display as an all Indian starting eleven of Shillong put the defending champions under tremendous pressure. The first half hour of the match saw the I League side create multiple chances, but the tragedy of their heroic start was the lack of sharpness in front of the goal. For the number of chances they had created, Shillong had nothing to show on the scoresheet.

It is a widely known fact that when you play against sides that are qualitatively on another level, ruthlessness matters. However, Shillong lacked this in the all-important semi-final. After soaking up the pressure in the first half an hour, NorthEast United tried to gain some control. Whenever they got the opportunity, they tried to test the opposition goalkeeper. One such attempt did what Shillong fans were most scared about.

Redeem Tlang’s screamer against his former side

In the 36th minute, Redeem Tlang got the space in the midfield to show his skill, and the time on the ball prompted him to take a long-range effort that caught the Shillong Lajong goalkeeper wrong-footed. Redeem’s shot took the opposition goalkeeper by surprise as he could not judge the trajectory of the ball and was left stunned, so were the fans in the stadium. The fiery shot ended up in the goal, causing a disaster for Shillong.

After the opener, NorthEast United looked more confident as they hit the crossbar in the 37th minute. The Shillong backline was rattled. They had to feel the heat in the last few minutes of the first half as NorthEast United went into the break with an unexpected 1-0 lead.

The second half of the game had a predictable script. NorthEast United were more involved in the game, but their attack was toothless. The most shocking stat for the NorthEast United fans would be 0 shots on target from their talisman, Alaaeddine Ajaraie. This stat speaks volumes about the defensive brilliance of a young Shillong Lajong side.

One thing that Shillong Lajong would rue the most is the lack of daring in front of the goal. Their first shot on target was registered in the 91st minute of the game, which is not acceptable in a match where you have had the edge in terms of dictating the proceedings. NorthEast United were resilient enough to stand tall in the face of the opposition onslaught, and this semi-final victory is a reward for the character that they have shown. Scraping a win when you are not the best side in the contest is a sign of a champion side.

Another edition, another final

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The Highlanders can’t stop making it to the finals of Asia’s oldest tournament. They seem to revel in this tournament. Juan Pedro Benali has again led his side to the summit clash of the Durand Cup. Last year, NorthEast United faced Mohun Bagan and stopped their juggernaut to win the first-ever silverware.

This year, they will again be coming up against a side from Kolkata as East Bengal play in the second semi-final against Diamond Harbour FC on August 20. For a club that saw a draught of trophies in the first decade of their existence, a back-to-back final appearance is a huge achievement. The Highlander Brigade would be backing their boys to script history and become one of the few sides to have defended the Durand Cup title.

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