New Delhi: Mohun Bagan relied on their goalkeeper Vishal Kaith far too many times as NorthEast gave them a taste of their own medicine to win the Durand Cup 4-3 on penalties (2-2 after regulation time) for their first major trophy in 10 years of existence in Indian football.
Up by two goals from Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad at the halfway stage, defending champions Bagan had one hand on the trophy. But NorthEast turned it around with Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Guilleromo Hierro striking in a span of four minutes to restore parity and then Gurmeet Singh did what Kaith did in Bagan’s shootouts wins in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
After somehow surviving a second half onslaught by NEUFC to stretch the match onto penalties, Kaith couldn’t block any of the four shots from NorthEast players in th tie-breaker while Gurmeet kept out Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose’s attempts with dives to his right and left respectively.
Bagan had to come from behind in their shootout victories in the quarters and semis, and having taken the lead after Jason Cummings dispatched a penalty on 11 minutes after Sahal Abdul Samad was pulled down by Asheer Akhtar, they seemed to be on their way.
All their offensive stars looked lively enough to interchange positions and combine among themselves to open up space for opportunities. NorthEast battled hard, particularly in the central part of the pitch to wrestle control of the ball and feed winger Jithim MS on their left flank.
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Jithin had energy but lacked composure as he headed straight to Vishal Kaith, which was a warning signal, though it didn’t seem like one when Bagan doubled their lead just at the stroke of the break.
In earlier attempts, Bagan had sighters at goal with Manvir Singh volleying straight to Gurmeet as the match entered into a lull period with both teams more keen to keep possession of the ball.
It changed on the fifth minute of added time though, just before the half-time whistle, as they put together a near-perfect exchanges of passes from the right channel that culminated in a wonderful goal.
Anirudh Thapa’s neat through ball nullified Liston Colaco’s marker and allowed him to enter the penalty box, get to the byline and pull back a centre that was neatly volleyed in by Samad from six yards.
Amazing turnaround
Two goals up with the crowd on their back, Bagan had little to worry, or so it seemed. With Bagan defender Alebrto Ridriguez substituted because of injury and Sahal taken out to field Dimitri Petratos, Bagan suddenly inexplicably lost grip of the proceeding.
Guillermo Hierro’s introduction, in place of Hamza Regragui, at the beginning of the second session and forced substitution of the injured Mohammed Ali Bemmmaer for Nestor Roger on the half hour mark also helped the visiting team considerably.
NorthEast committed more men forward and sent crosses into the box that unsettled the back-tracking three-man Bagan backline. Players were left unmarked inside the box, which NorthEast capitalised to the hilt, netting twice in three minutes.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie beat Kaith at the near post with a sidefooter on 55 minutes and three minutes later an inviting centre over the shoulder of Subhasish Bose was directed in by Guillermo with a very fine volley.
Suddenly the 52,391 people at the Salt Lake stadium went silent as NorthEast smelled blood, and forced Kaith into several saves and Bagan defenders into making panic clearances.
Most of the second half action was limited inside the Bagan half with Petratos the only player of the home team to attempt shots at the Northeast goal, missing by narrow margins.
It was left for the Kaith and Gurmeet and the later rose to the occasion, showing why NorthEast coach Juan Pedro Benali had said before the match they were there to win and not on holiday.
NorthEast defeated Mohun Bagan 4-3 on penalties in the final to win the Durand Cup, their first major trophy in Indian football Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
