Durand Cup: NorthEast United FC Advances to Semifinals with Dominant Win Over Shillong Lajong NorthEast United FC delivered a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Shillong Lajong FC 5-2 in a rain-soaked Northeastern derby at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday, securing their fourth consecutive semifinal berth in the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup. The Highlanders, trailing 2-1 at halftime, orchestrated a four-goal surge in the second half, led by Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who scored a sensational hat-trick. The victory confirmed all four semifinalists: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Sporting Club Delhi, East Bengal FC, and NorthEast United FC. The match began with NorthEast United taking an early lead in the 11th minute when Ajaraie capitalized on a long ball from captain Redeem Tlang, beating his marker before slotting the ball into the net. Shillong Lajong responded swiftly, with Figo Syndai equalizing in the 20th minute. The hosts extended their lead in the 34th minute as Joao Vitor “Jota” exploited a counter-attack, rounded goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh, and finished confidently to make it 2-1. Despite NorthEast’s early dominance, Shillong maintained a slender lead at halftime, buoyed by their attacking momentum and the support of over 10,000 spectators. The rain eased after the break, allowing NorthEast to seize control. In the 55th minute, Etyan Jesus Gonzalez Morales restored parity with a composed finish. Just three minutes later, Ajaraie struck again to put the Highlanders ahead 3-2. Shillong’s attempts to respond were thwarted as Ajaraie continued his dominance. Released by Jithin M.S. in the 69th minute, he completed his hat-trick with a clinical strike, extending the lead to 4-2. NorthEast sealed the contest in the 79th minute when Jithin M.S.#jawaharlal_nehru_stadium #north_east_united_fc #alaaeddine_ajaraie #shillong_lajong_fc #mohun_bagansuper_giant
Calm mind, sharp finish: NorthEast United coach Benali on scoring goals Guwahati, Mar 8: Scoring a goal may look simple on the football field, but for NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali, it is an art shaped more by the mind than by the foot. The Highlanders have scored only twice in their first three Indian Super League (ISL) matches this season. The numbers highlight the void left by Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who netted 23 goals in 25 appearances last season before moving on loan to Indonesian club Persija Jakarta. Benali admitted that the absence of Ajaraie and Spaniard Nunez Chema has affected the team’s attacking output. “Of course we are missing Alaaeddine and Chema. Between them, they scored around 75% of the goals in the Super Cup and Durand Cup,” he said. “When you take out 75% of the goals from a team, it is not only that you do not score. You also create less danger for the other teams, hold the ball less and win fewer set pieces.” Replacing such influence is never easy, he added. “You cannot replace Alaaeddine or Chema easily. Now we have other players and we try to improve them, but we cannot put too much pressure on them.” For Benali, the difference between a prolific striker and an ordinary one often lies in a single quality—calmness. “In football, scoring goals is very expensive,” Benali said, reflecting on the art of finishing. “One of the most important things to learn is calmness. Sometimes you see players in front of goal and they just blast the ball everywhere without control. Why? Because of anxiety in front of goal; the anxiety to score.” He believes that composure in the decisive moment separates elite forwards from the rest. “That is the difference between a top-level striker and a normal striker.#juan_pedro_benali #north_east_united #alaaeddine_ajaraie #nunez_chema #persija_jakarta
