Indian Super League (ISL) side NorthEast United FC played out a 2-2 draw against Rangdajied United FC in their final group-stage match of the Durand Cup 2025 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Monday.

Bekey Oram scored from the spot in the opening half, while new signing Jairo Samperio found the back of the net in the 76th minute as the Highlanders salvaged a point. With that, Juan Pedro Benali’s men finished at the summit of Group E with seven points from three matches.

FULL-TIME! NEUFC 2-2 Rangdajied United FC.
We're held to a draw in our final group game. #StrongerAsOne #8States1United #134thEditionofIndianOilDurandCup pic.twitter.com/M4IgpFhkxl

— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) August 11, 2025

NorthEast United FC made a couple of changes to their lineup as the match also saw a senior team debut for young goalkeeper Arman Tamang, alongside first starts for Robin Yadav, Mohammed Arshaf, and Jairo Samperio.

The Highlanders started on the front foot, controlling possession and tempo through Chema’s creativity. In the 23rd minute, Chema threaded in a perfectly timed through ball for Thoi Singh, who had made a run past Rangdajied United FC’s backline. However, Thoi was brought down in the penalty box and awarded a penalty.

Bekey Oram stepped up to take the penalty and calmly placed it in the bottom left corner to score his first goal for NorthEast United FC’s senior team.

However, goals by Lawphniaw (32’) and Umdor (44’) inside the opening half meant that the Highlanders went into the break trailing by a goal.

In the second half, Benali shuffled the pack around the hour mark, bringing in Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Lalbiakdika, and Fredy Chawngthansanga in place of Parthib Gogoi, Thoi Singh, and Mohammed Arshaf, respectively.

The changes had a positive impact on the game. The equalizer came when Lalbiakdika beat his man on the left and fed Macarton Nickson, whose pass across the box was cleverly dummied by Jairo for Ajaraie. The Moroccan returned the ball into Jairo’s path, and the Spaniard finished clinically for his first goal for NorthEast United FC.

In the dying moments, debutant Tamang produced a superb save to deny Rangdajied United FC, while the Highlanders pressed for a winner but had to settle for a share of the spoils.