Shillong Lajong FC – 1 (Figo 81’) NorthEast United FC – 2 (S. Ajaraie 5’83’)
Shillong, Aug 8: Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie struck twice to hand defending champions NorthEast United FC a 2–1 win over Shillong Lajong FC in a fiercely contested NorthEast derby of the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.
The victory sealed NorthEast United’s place in the quarterfinals with a game to spare, thanks to their superior head-to-head record. Ajaraie opened the scoring in the fifth minute, calmly slotting home after a defence-splitting pass from new signing Jose Manuel Nunez Martin. Shillong Lajong battled back, with substitute Figo Syndai heading in an 81st-minute equaliser from Saveme Tariang’s pinpoint cross.
But the home crowd’s celebrations were short-lived. Just moments after the restart, Ajaraie turned sharply on the edge of the box and fired into the top corner for his fifth goal of the tournament, sealing the Highlanders’ second win in Group E. NorthEast now sit on six points from two matches, while Lajong finish their campaign with six from three. A draw in their final group game will confirm NorthEast as group winners.
Both coaches — Juan Pedro Benali for NorthEast and Birendra Thapa for Lajong — fielded strong starting line-ups, making multiple changes to inject freshness. The match was a blend of early fireworks, disciplined defending, and moments of individual brilliance, with Lajong threatening through the pace of Sheen Stevenson and Phrangki Buam, only to be denied by an inspired Gurmeet Singh in the Highlanders’ goal.
In the end, Ajaraie’s clinical finishing proved the difference, as NorthEast became the second team to book a quarterfinal berth in this year’s tournament.
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