NorthEast United Wins Durand Cup Football for the First Time: Defeats Defending Champion Mohun Bagan 4-3; Gurmeet Saves 2 Goals in Shootout
NorthEast United FC has clinched the title of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, thanks to Gurmeet Singh’s exceptional goalkeeping. Despite trailing 2-0 in the final match of the 133rd season, the team defeated the defending champions Mohun Bagan 4-3 in a shootout. This is NorthEast United’s first championship in this tournament, marking their first trophy in Indian football.
The final match held at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan ended in a 2-2 draw after regular time, leading to the decision being made through a shootout. Gurmeet Singh, 24, saved a goal from Liston Colaco on the third attempt and then blocked a shot from Mohun Bagan’s captain Subhasish Bose on the fifth attempt, securing the victory for his team.
Mohun Bagan had to settle for the runner-up position for the 13th time. Bollywood actor John Abraham, the owner of NorthEast United FC, was also present to watch the match.
The Thrill of the Shootout
During the shootout, NorthEast United’s Guillermo Fernandez, captain Míchel Zabaco, Parthib Gogoi, and Aladin Azarai successfully converted their attempts into goals.
On the other hand, Mohun Bagan’s Jason Cummings, Manveer Singh, and Dimitri Petratos scored, while Liston Colaco and captain Subhasish Bose missed their attempts.
Awards and Winners
Golden Boot: Noah Sadawi of Kerala Blasters was awarded the Golden Boot. He was the top scorer of the season with two hat-tricks against Mumbai City FC and CISF Protectors. He received ₹5 lakh.
Golden Glove: Gurmeet Singh of NorthEast United was honored with the Golden Glove award. He earned this accolade with three clean sheets and an impressive performance in the final, making him the joint best goalkeeper.
Golden Ball: Jitin MS of NorthEast United was named the Best Player of the tournament. He received a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for his outstanding performance.
Mohun Bagan Led 2-0 at Halftime
In the final match, Mohun Bagan was leading 2-0 at halftime. Goals were scored by Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad for the defending champions. Cummings converted a penalty, while Samad scored a field goal just before halftime.
In the second half, Aladin Azarai (55th minute) and Guillermo Fernandez (58th minute) equalized the score for NorthEast United. The match was then decided by a shootout, where NorthEast’s goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh saved two penalties, securing the victory for his team.
Durand Cup: Asia’s Oldest Football Tournament
The Durand Cup is the oldest football tournament in Asia and the fifth oldest football tournament in the world. It was inaugurated in 1888 in Shimla. To date, the tournament has seen 133 seasons.
