Indian Super League (ISL) club NorthEast United FC scripted history as they clinched their first major trophy, the Durand Cup, with a stunning comeback and thrilling penalty-shootout win against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in Kolkata on Saturday.

Notably, it was the first final appearance for the Highlanders, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands to mark a new chapter in the club's history.

Throughout the Durand Cup 2024, Juan Pedro Benali’s men have been sensational in terms of thwarting the opposition defence and scoring goals with their versatile offensive setup. Before the final, the Highlanders conceded the least number of goals (1) in the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in their five outings.

However, NorthEast United FC experienced a challenging 45 minutes in the opening half as Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad provided a solid 2-0 lead to the Mariners in the final. The Highlanders, however, rallied during the second half, where Benali’s smart tactical move brought them back in the game.

Alaeddine Ajaraie and Guillermo Fernandez scored a goal each, while Gurmeet Singh’s heroics in the tiebreaker led NorthEast United FC to their elusive first silverware.

After the match, the Highlanders’ defensive trio Miguel Zabaco, Hamza Regragui, and Asheer Akhtar opened up to indiansuperleague.com, sharing their thoughts after the Durand Cup triumph.

I am very proud of everything: Miguel Zabaco

 

The NorthEast United FC captain has been a stalwart at the backline with his defensive prowess. The defender played a pivotal role in marshalling the defence throughtout the tournament and in the final as well.

On clinching the first major trophy for the club, Miguel Zabaco shared his delight, saying, “I am very proud of everything. The club, staff, and owners always support us in the good moments and also in the bad moments. This is most important for us.”

“Our supporters are also important to us. They came here (in Kolkata) and supported us. They also supported us in Guwahati, in the NorthEast, in Shillong, and also in Kolkata. This trophy is also for them. We’re very proud,” he added.

The defender underscored their indomitable fighting spirit and utmost grit behind their commendable comeback in the second half to level the scoreline despite trailing by two goals.

“In the second half, we pressed higher, and I think they (Mohun Bagan SG) were also tired. We could have scored more goals but were unlucky. Very happy to win the trophy,” he remarked.

NorthEast United FC winger Jithin MS won the prestigious ‘Golden Ball’ award with four goals and three assists to his name.

Praising his teammate, Zabaco said, “Jithin is amazing. He is best in 1v1 duels. His skills are different in comparison to other Indian players. He has to keep going because he can reach many titles.”

The Spaniard remained focused on keeping improving to deliver standout performances in the forthcoming ISL season. Speaking in context, he said, “Of course, we need to keep calm and improve a lot.”

“This is not our top (level). We have to keep going and reach the next playoffs,” he signed off.

The best is yet to come: Hamza Regragui

 

Known for his versatility on the field, Regragui has proved himself as an integral part of Juan Pedro Benali’s setup. Since joining the club last season, the Moroccan international has played both as a defensive midfielder and centre-back and has also consistently featured in the just-ended Durand Cup.

Regragui believed that the squad has had the potential to achieve greater things in the coming days. He shared his pleasure in winning the title with the Highlanders, saying, “Very happy with this trophy. It’s difficult. But we worked hard together like a family.”

“Now we have time to be better thinking about ISL. We have something more to do together, and the best is yet to come,” he continued.

“This year NorthEast United FC have very good goalkeepers, Gurmeet (Singh), Mirshad (Michu), and another keeper. We have too many good players like Jithin (MS), Tondonba (Singh), Nestor (Albiach), Alaeddine (Ajaraie), and Guillermo (Fernandez). This year we’ll be very good,” he further added.

He highlighted how the players rectified their mistakes at the half-time break and staged a commendable fight back in the final half.

“In the first half, we could do what the coach said. It was very difficult for us. After the first half, we went into the dressing room and spoke together. We kept our fate in our hands,” he remarked.

“In the second half, the players did what the coach said, and we made a strong comeback. This is very important for us,” he added.

While sharing their target ahead of the ISL 2024-25 season, Regragui commented, “Our objective is to qualify for the top six in the ISL.”

We came here to win: Asheer Akhtar

 

Asheer Akhtar underlined the significance of demonstrating the winning mentality to overcome a team like Mohun Bagan SG in a title-deciding fixture.

Sharing his thoughts after the match, he said, “We came here to win. The first half did not go in our favor. The players were looking discouraged in the first half.”

“During the break, the coach boosted our confidence by saying we can do it. And we did it. We came back in the second half. It is the best feeling for us,” he added.

The defender, who joined the club last seaosn, shared his pleasure and enthusiasm of clinching his first title for the club.

“It’s a dream for every NorthEast United FC fan as we create history by winning the first trophy. It is very special as we won against Mohun Bagan SG in Kolkata in front of such a crowd in a lively atmosphere. We are very happy,” he said.

The 29-year-old footballer has been a known face in Kolkata, having previously represented East Bengal FC and Mohammedan SC before joining the Highlanders. He believes that winning the Durand Cup against the Kolkata giants will put them in good stead for the upcoming ISL season.

“Mohun Bagan SG are one of the best teams in India. To win against them in front of their thousands of supporters is a big achievement for us. It will boost our confidence in the ISL,” Akhtar remarked.

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NorthEast United FC2024-2025 Asheer Akhtar