Defending champions NorthEast United FC clinched their second successive Durand Cup title in emphatic fashion, dismantling the giant-killing run of debutants Diamond Harbour FC with a dominant 6-1 victory in the final on Saturday. The Highlanders put on a relentless attacking display at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan to lift the trophy for the 134th edition of the historic tournament.
From the outset, NorthEast United asserted their control over the match, leaving little room for the debutants to find their footing. The scoring was opened at the half-hour mark by Asheer Akhtar, before Parthib Gogoi doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time. The floodgates opened in the second half, with Thoi Singh adding a third goal shortly after the break. Substitutes Jairo Samperio and Andres Rodriguez also found the net, and Alaaeddine Ajaraie capped off the rout with a penalty in injury time, marking six different scorers for the champions.
While the final proved a step too far, Diamond Harbour FC's journey to the title clash was nothing short of remarkable. The debutant side had captured the imagination of fans by upsetting two Indian Super League (ISL) powerhouses, Jamshedpur FC and East Bengal, in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, respectively. Their lone moment of celebration in the final came in the 68th minute when a header from Jobby Justin deflected in off Luka Majcen for a consolation goal.
The comprehensive victory etched NorthEast United FC's name in the history books. The 6-1 scoreline represents the largest margin of victory in a Durand Cup final in the post-Independence era of the 137-year-old tournament. Furthermore, the Highlanders became only the second team to retain the title, a feat last achieved by East Bengal, who won three consecutive titles between 1989 and 1991.
NorthEast United's complete dominance of the tournament was reflected in the individual awards. Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie was the star of the show, winning both the Golden Ball for the best player and the Golden Boot for the top scorer with an impressive tally of eight goals. The club's goalkeeper, Gurmeet Singh, was awarded the Golden Glove for his outstanding performances between the posts.
