Shillong: Mohun Bagan advance to Durand Cup final after penalty shootout win
Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured their spot in the Durand Cup final after a tense penalty shootout victory against NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The match concluded 0-0 after regulation time, leading to spot-kicks where Mohun Bagan prevailed 4-3.
Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith emerged as a key player for Mohun Bagan, making crucial saves during the shootout. His performance helped his team advance to face fierce rivals East Bengal in the final, setting up a Kolkata Derby decider.
Match Overview and Key Moments
The semifinal clash on Thursday saw both teams struggle to establish dominance in the midfield, particularly in the opening 20 minutes. The wet conditions on the pitch in Shillong contributed to difficulties in building sustained passing moves, leading both sides to frequently resort to long balls to create attacking opportunities.
NorthEast United’s Alaaeddine Ajaraie, the tournament’s leading goalscorer, came close to breaking the deadlock on several occasions. In the first half, his half-volley from a set-piece narrowly missed the post. Later, around the hour mark, Ajaraie was unable to connect with a low cross from the right flank, missing another potential scoring chance.
Mohun Bagan also had their moments, with Liston Colaco causing problems down the left wing and testing NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh. Despite Mohun Bagan holding 54 percent possession during the match, neither team managed to find the back of the net in 90 minutes of play. Rahul Bheke made a critical sliding challenge to deny Ajaraie a clear shot on goal in the second half, while NorthEast’s defence held firm against Jamie Maclaren.
Penalty Shootout Drama
With the score remaining 0-0 after regulation time, the match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout. The shootout remained evenly balanced through the first three rounds, with both teams converting their initial penalties.
The turning point came when Vishal Kaith saved Robin Yadav’s effort, NorthEast United’s fourth kick. This save shifted the momentum in favour of Mohun Bagan. Jamie Maclaren then calmly converted his penalty, putting Mohun Bagan ahead 4-3.
Kaith then produced another decisive save, denying Parthib Gogoi’s attempt, which secured Mohun Bagan’s victory and their place in the final. This marked Kaith’s second consecutive match-winning performance in a penalty shootout, having also saved a penalty in sudden death during the quarterfinals against Jamshedpur FC.
Coaches’ Perspectives and Final Preparations
NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali had acknowledged the importance of the semifinal, stating it would not be easy for either team. He highlighted Mohun Bagan’s squad, noting that many of their domestic players are national team regulars, complemented by talented foreign players and a strong coach.
Benali’s team had conceded only two goals in the tournament prior to this match, both in their last outing, and were expected to draw confidence from strong crowd support in Shillong. Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan’s new head coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis, was seeking his first silverware with the club. Dilmperis, a friend of Benali, was aware of the threat posed by Ajaraie and aimed to neutralize it with his attacking trio of Jamie Maclaren, Dejan Drazic, and Liston Colaco.
Mohun Bagan will now prepare to face arch-rivals East Bengal in the Durand Cup final on Sunday at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
