NorthEast United FC gamers have fun after scoring towards Shillong Lajong.© Twitter
Indian Super League facet NorthEast United FC edged previous native favourites Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 to qualify for the ultimate of the Durand Cup in Shillong on Monday. First-half targets from Thoi Singh and Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie and a strike in added time of the second half by Parthib Gogoi did the job for the Highlanders, as they scripted a bit of membership historical past by making their first-ever Durand Cup last on the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium.
A crowd of over 15,000 principally partisan residence followers was silenced when Thoi scored following a well-worked transfer within the thirteenth minute and Ajaraie added a second within the thirty third, courtesy a wonder-ball from Spanish playmaker Nestor Roger.
Shillong gave an excellent account of themselves thereafter, however gamers like Mohammed Ali Bemammer within the Highlanders’ mid-field helped the guests management the sport earlier than Parthib, introduced in late by Spanish coach Juan Pedro Ben Ali, put the icing on the cake with a solo effort three minutes into added time.
The Highlanders did properly to attain the early objective. Samte’s throw-in from the left flank discovered Ajare contained in the field. Ajare’s delectable back-heel to Jithin noticed the lanky winger make a splash in the direction of the backline and ship a telling cross to Thoi, who slotted residence with medical precision.
Shillong Lajong tried to combat again and a long-ranger from Wahlang dipped viciously, forcing Gurmeet within the NorthEast goalmouth to hurriedly parry it away.
In the 33rnd minute, Nestor managed to bisect the Lajong again two to seek out Ajarie completely positioned to attain the second objective. The Moroccan introduced it down superbly together with his left foot and chipped it over goalkeeper Manas. But the ball hit the upright and got here again into play. Ajarie was lucky to get a second shot at it and this time he made no mistake.
