Kolkata, Sept 1 (UNI) NorthEast United FC staged a remarkable comeback after trailing 2-0 to defeat the defending champions, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, in a penalty shootout and secure the Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here on Saturday night.
This victory marks the Highlanders’ first silverware since the club’s establishment.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant initially led 2-0 in the first half with goals from Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad.
However, Alaeddine Ajaraie and Guillermo Fernandez brought NorthEast United FC level in the second half. Goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh then emerged as the hero, saving two penalty kicks to clinch the win for his team.
Juan Pedro Benali made a tactical decision leaving both Spanish attacking players Guillermo Fernandez and Nestor Albiach on the bench and starting Alaeddine Ajaraie, Jithin M.S and Thoi Singh in attack with the Moroccan midfield duo of Mohammed Ali Bemammer and Hamza Regragui along with Mayakkannan Muthu shielding the defence led by Michel Zabaco.
On the other end, Jose Molina started Jason Cummings and Greg Stewart along with Sahal Abdul Samad in attack with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh providing the width on the pitch. Subhasish Bose returned to the starting eleven and slotted in a back three in defence along with Thomas Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez.
The nerves of a final were seen in the initial minutes as both teams looked cagey from the first whistle but it was the Kolkata side which settled into the game quicker.
Sahal Abdul Samad was pulled down by Asheer Akhtar inside the box and the referee had an easy decision to point to the spot. Jason Cummings calmly slotted the resultant penalty in the goal past Gurmeet Singh.
The Highlanders were not close to their best as the players looked out of sorts in the summit clash.
Jithin M.S. was the only bright spot for them in the half with his marauding runs down the left flank but he could not find any support from his team members as the Mohun Bagan SG defenders had no trouble in clearing out the attacks.
Mohammed Ali Bemammer was substituted due to injury, adding to the troubles of NorthEast United FC.
The first half belonged to the home side and they cemented it by doubling their advantage, deep into injury time.
Liston Colaco found space in the left wing and surged inside the box past Dinesh Singh. The winger poked the ball into the path of Sahal who was free inside the box and the midfielder expertly scored past a diving Gurmeet Singh.
Guillermo Fernandez was brought in for NorthEast United FC while Dimitri Petratos was introduced for Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the start of the second half.
The Highlanders looked revitalised with Jithin continuing from where he left off in the first half and Nestor Albiach controlling the midfield. Jithin’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Subhasish Bose and it was a sign of things to come.
NorthEast United FC levelled the scores in the blink of an eye with Ajaraie and Guillermo scoring in the space of three minutes to stun the partisan Kolkata crowd.
Jithin M.S. set up Ajaraie on the edge of the box and the Moroccan slotted the ball into the right corner for the first goal.
Minutes later, Ajaraie found Guillermo on the far post and the Spanish forward connected first time to leave Vishal Kaith rooted on the spot as the ball flew past him and stung the net for his fifth of the tournament.
The Highlanders continued to dominate the match from there on and pushed for the lead, leaving the Mohun Bagan defence and midfield clueless.
Macarton Louis and Jithin M.S stung the palms of Vishal Kaith with their thunderous efforts as NorthEast United FC kept the Mariners on the back foot during this dominant phase of play.
NorthEast United FC continued to dominate proceedings as Mohun Bagan SG looked in the shadow of their first-half performance.
The Highlanders pushed for the decisive winning goal and created a couple of clear chances but could not take advantage of them.
Dimitri Petratos’s left-footed effort which went inches wide of the goal was the only meaningful attempt that Mohun Bagan SG created in the second half as the finals went into penalties.
Gurmeet Singh saved the spot kicks of Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose while Vishal Kaith could not produce his heroics from the last rounds as all four penalty takers, Guillermo Fernandez, Michel Zabaco, Parthib Gogoi and Alaeddine Ajaraie converted their respective penalties.
Only Jason Cummings, Manvir Singh and Dimitri Petratos could convert the first three penalties for Mohun Bagan SG.
