Durand Cup: NorthEast United thrash Diamond Harbour 6-1 to retain title in style

Defending champions NorthEast United FC produced a stunning display of attacking football to dismantle debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in the final of the 134th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday. With six different players on target and talisman Alaaeddine Ajaraie running the show with three assists and a late penalty, the Highlanders sealed back-to-back titles in emphatic fashion — the first team in 25 years to do so.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Diamond Harbour’s lone reply came in the 68th minute when Jobby Justin’s header took a deflection off Luka Majcen. By then, though, the contest was long tilted in NorthEast’s favour.Coach Juan Pedro Benali’s side stuck to their trusted 4-3-3 formation, with Parthib Gogoi and Huidom Thoi Singh joining Ajaraie up front. Skipper Miguel Zabaco marshalled the backline, while Spaniards Andy Gaitan and Chema Nunez dictated the tempo in midfield.After a cautious start, NorthEast broke through on the half-hour mark when centre-back Asheer Akhtar pounced on a loose ball from a corner to score. Just before the break, Parthib Gogoi curled home a fine finish to double the lead, leaving Diamond Harbour chasing shadows.The second half saw the champions step on the accelerator. Ajaraie turned provider for Thoi Singh in the 50th minute before Majcen’s fortuitous strike briefly lifted the debutants’ hopes. But substitute Jairo’s thunderous effort in the 81st minute snuffed out any chance of a fightback. Andy and Ajaraie added two more goals late on to complete the rout — also equalling the joint-highest margin of victory in a Durand Cup final since 1896.Ajaraie’s heroics saw him walk away with both the Golden Boot (8 goals) and Golden Ball, while Gurmeet picked up the Golden Glove. NorthEast swept all individual awards, underlining their dominance.As the players lifted the trophy in front of a jubilant crowd, the night marked not just another triumph for the Highlanders, but also a statement that their reign in Indian football’s oldest competition remains unchallenged.