Durand Cup semis: Shillong Lajong to face defending champions NorthEast United

Shillong Lajong FC staged a brilliant comeback to beat Indian Navy 2–1 and storm into the Durand Cup semifinals for the second successive year on August 16.

They will now face defending champions NorthEast United in Shillong on August 19, in a repeat of last year’s semifinal clash.

In the first quarterfinal, the visitors went ahead in the 37th minute when Vijay Marandi showed great composure to beat the goalkeeper and defenders before slotting home. Lajong kept pushing after the break and equalised in the 69th minute when Damaitphang Lyngdoh’s curling cross from the left sneaked in off the far post.

Ten minutes later, Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah was brought down inside the box and calmly converted the resulting penalty, sending the home crowd into wild celebrations. Lajong then held firm against Navy’s late pressure to book their place in the last four for the third time overall. 

In the day’s other quarterfinal at Kokrajhar, NorthEast United produced a dominant display to rout Bodoland FC 4–0 at a packed SAI Stadium. Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie struck twice (29’, 61’), Spaniard Andy Garcia netted his first goal for the club (53’), while substitute Parthib Gogoi (90+2’) rounded off the win in stoppage time.

The first half of the Lajong vs Navy match saw very few chances being created until the 35th minute mark when the game came to life and at the end of a chaotic sequence of two minutes.

A long goal-kick from Bhaskar Roy was brought down by Roshan Panna and squared to Vijay Marandi inside the box.

The Navy forward showed composure to round the goalkeeper and three defenders and his left footed shot deflected off the retrieving goalkeeper and found the net past the two defenders who were on the goal line.

The goal came before both goalkeepers made terrific saves at each end, with Siwel Rymbai showing his reflex to palm away a glancing header from Sreyas V.G and later Bhaskar Roy dived full stretch to his right to deny Gladdy Kharbuli.

The second half saw Shillong Lajong forcing attacks to find the equaliser but were thwarted by a disciplined Navy defence and their own decisions in the final third.

Everbrightson Sana came the closest to score with his header hitting the crossbar and going out.

Sheen Stevenson also failed to find the target after Rudra Ved found the winger free inside the box but he couldn’t keep his header down.

The Navy men were content to play in the counter attack and looked more in control of the game.

The home side eventually found the equaliser after constant pressure in the 69th minute.

Damaitphang Lyngdoh’s intended cross from the left wing curled into the goal after the ball looped into the net after hitting the far post.

The Shillong side took the lead in the 79th minute after Everbrightson Sana won and converted a penalty.

The striker received the ball at the edge of the box and with a smart turn foxed Novin Gurung who brought him down inside the box.

The 20-year-old stepped up to convert the penalty calmly past Bhaskar Roy who guessed correctly but was beyond his reach, sending the home crowd into frenzy.

Shillong Lajong absorbed the pressure from Indian Navy and defended resiliently to ensure that they reach their third Durand Cup semi-final overall.

In the NorthEast vs Bodoland match, the opening quarter-hour saw both teams exchange blows in a frenetic, end-to-end contest.

Robinson, Pranjal, and Urjoy Brahma tested Gurmeet at one end, while Ajaraie, Lalrinzuala, and Andy forced Diamary into sharp saves at the other.

Bodoland came out aggressively after the restart, but their lack of cutting edge in the final third was punished in the 53rd minute.

A flowing move started by Zabaco released Buanthanglun Samte on the left, whose cross was met by Andy Gaitan in the middle. The Spaniard’s low strike squeezed past Diamary despite his fingertips, doubling NEUFC’s advantage and making it the first goal for Andy for his new side.

Bodoland, spurred by their vociferous supporters, pushed hard to reduce the margin but were repeatedly thwarted by Zabaco’s disciplined backline and Gurmeet’s safe hands.

The final goal came deep into stoppage time when substitute Jairo threaded a delightful through ball for Parthib Gogoi, who kept his composure to slot into the far corner and complete the 4-0 rout.