NorthEast United FC Wins First Durand Cup After Thrilling Comeback Against Mohun Bagan
NorthEast United FC clinched their first-ever Durand Cup title in a dramatic final at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Despite trailing by two goals, they made a stunning comeback to defeat defending champions Mohun Bagan SG on penalties.
Match Highlights
Mohun Bagan took an early lead with goals from Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad. However, NorthEast United’s Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Guillermo Fernandez equalized in the second half. The match went to penalties, where NorthEast United’s goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh became the hero by saving two spot kicks.
Key Players
| Player | Award |
|---|---|
| Gurmeet Singh | Golden Glove |
| Noah Sadaoui | Golden Boot (6 goals) |
| Jithin M.S | Man of the Tournament |
Head coach Juan Pedro Benali expressed his joy and disbelief at the victory, stating, “We don’t believe it yet. But NorthEast is a champion now.”
Doubts Revealed
NorthEast United FC -: NorthEast United FC is a football (soccer) team from the northeastern region of India. They play in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Durand Cup -: The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in India. It started in 1888 and is named after Mortimer Durand, a British diplomat.
Mohun Bagan SG -: Mohun Bagan SG is a famous football club from Kolkata, India. They are one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in India.
Salt Lake Stadium -: Salt Lake Stadium, also known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, is a large stadium in Kolkata, India. It is one of the biggest football stadiums in the world.
penalties -: Penalties are a way to decide the winner in a football match if the game is tied. Players take turns trying to score a goal from a set distance.
Juan Pedro Benali -: Juan Pedro Benali is the head coach of NorthEast United FC. He is responsible for training the team and making game strategies.
Gurmeet Singh -: Gurmeet Singh is a player for NorthEast United FC. He is a goalkeeper and saved two important penalty shots in the final.
Noah Sadaoui -: Noah Sadaoui is a football player who won the Golden Boot in the Durand Cup. The Golden Boot is an award given to the top goal scorer in a tournament.
Jithin M.S -: Jithin M.S is a player for NorthEast United FC. He was named Man of the Tournament, which means he was considered the best player in the entire competition.
