NorthEast United FC are in a place they have never been before. On the cusp of glory. In their ten years of existence, the Highlanders have come close to reaching the ultimate stage a few times, but the showpiece that a final is, has evaded them.

But led by Juan Pedro Benali, NorthEast United FC have passed the hurdle that in the past felt too big to overcome. Beating local rivals Shillong Lajong in the semi-final, the Highlanders have made the cut to the Durand Cup final. 

The oldest football competition in Asia may not see all the teams field their strongest teams but it remains a title of great prestige and one which NorthEast United FC, a club that represents one of India’s biggest footballing hubs, would be desperate to get their name on. 

A victory in the final would also mean a first piece of silverware for the Highlanders at the national level after ten years of wait. A squad with a lot of youngsters who are yet to taste any major success in their careers will make NorthEast United FC very hungry on Saturday to help the team take the final step. 

A victory would also give the team a much-needed boost ahead of the Indian Super League (ISL) season having narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season by just one point. 

Benali’s team have almost been flawless in the Durand Cup so far having scored 16 goals, conceding just one in response in five matches. 

Jithin MS and Guillermo Fernandez have both scored four goals each for their team and have an outside chance of winning the golden boot if either scores a minimum of two goals in the final. Goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh is joint top in the race for the Golden Glove with three clean sheets and another shutout on Saturday would give him the Golden Glove award and very likely a winners’ medal. 

First-time finalists are thus extremely dangerous and they treat the final as the biggest game of their lives and with NorthEast United FC boasting a squad full of youngsters, expect them to go into the game all guns blazing. 

But for all their exuberance, the Highlanders will have to show composure if they are to overcome their opponents who have made it a habit of reaching finals. 

Mohun Bagan Super Giant have been one of the most consistent teams in the ISL since they joined the fray in 2020. They reached the ISL Cup final in 2020-21 where they lost to Mumbai City FC. Two years later, they were back in the final where they saw off Bengaluru FC on penalties to win the ISL Cup. They followed it up with the Durand Cup triumph in 2023 beating arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the final despite being down to ten men. 

The Mariners then went on to win the League Shield beating Mumbai City FC in the final match of the season before reaching the ISL Cup final again only for the Islanders to extract revenge and beat Mohun Bagan SG 3-1 in Kolkata. 

The Kolkata Giants now under Jose Molina have reached another final scoring 12 goals in four matches and conceding five goals. They needed penalties to go through in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals but faced formidable ISL opponents in both rounds. 

The Mariners know how to win key games, a trait which was on full display in the semi-finals where they came from 0-2 down to go through on penalties against Bengaluru FC. 

Mohun Bagan SG will thus count on this experience of playing in big matches and the knack of grinding out the result even when they aren’t at their best when they face NorthEast United FC in the final. 

The Highlanders will play their first-ever major final and will be up against the Mariners who have featured in three major finals in the last 18 months.

Molina’s side will look to make their knowhow of big games count against a team that haven’t had that experience under their belt. 

This contrast thus makes it an intriguing final where two teams with vastly different paths will look to carve their respective ways to glory. 

Whether it’s NorthEast United FC or Mohun Bagan Super Giant who emerge triumphant at the end of the game, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan is certain to experience a spectacle. The Durand Cup is on the line and two ISL sides are eager to lay down an early marker before the league begins on September 13. Bring on the action.

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NorthEast United FCMohun Bagan Super GiantJithin M.S.