NorthEast United FC Dominates Diamond Harbour FC, Clinches Durand Cup Title in Stunning 6-1 Victory

Kolkata: As the Assam regiment filled the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday with its traditional marching song, “Badluram ka badan zameen ke neeche hai, aur humko uska ration milta hai,"NorthEast United FC found themselves celebrating yet another Durand Cup triumph while Diamond Harbour FC were served a painful reminder of the proverbial gap between the cup and the lip. The final was supposed to be a dazzling denouement to the Kibu Vicuna-managed team’s underdog story. Instead, it turned out to be an agonizing so-near-yet-so-far narrative for the Durand Cup debutants. A defining moment was upon Diamond Harbour FC, a club set up merely three years ago and ready to write their moment of truth. Instead, NorthEast United FC spoiled the party, blowing them away with a 6-1 demolition and scripting their own place in history along the way. No team in post-Independent India has ever managed to pump in six or more goals past an opponent in a Durand Cup title clash. By winning the title, NEUFC also became the first team to defend the title since East Bengal did the same from 1989-91. Diamond Harbour were brought down to earth in the most shocking manner as defending champions NorthEast United played with a kind of clinical efficiency that explained their authoritative ways in the tournament. Juan Pedro Benali’s NEUFC raced to a 2-0 lead in the first half with goals from Asheer Akhtar (30) and Parthiv Gogoi (45+1). Thoi Singh made it 3-0 five minutes after the break for the holders. Although Luka Majcen reduced the margin to 1-3 in the 68th minute, NEUFC kept racing through the gears and sealed the deal with more goals from Jairo Samperio (82), Andres Rodrigues (86), and Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who converted a late penalty in the 90+2 minute for his eighth goal in the tournament and grabbed both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.