NorthEast United etched its name in the history books as it beat Mohun Bagan SG on penalties to win the Durand Cup 2024.

The 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup concluded in grand fashion, here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), with a thrilling final match between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Northeast United FC. In a closely contested 

match, NorthEast United FC clinched victory over Mohun Bagan Super Giant by margin of 4-3 in a penalty shootout, thereby bringing the competition into a thrilling closure.

The Chief Guest for the evening was General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of the Defence Staff. The event was graced by the presence of Shri Aroop Biswas, Hon’ble Minster of Youth Services & Sports, Housing and Power, Government of West Bengal, Gen Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ram Chander Tiwari UYSM, AVSM SM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern 

Command and Patron Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC) and Lt General RC Srikanth, VSM, Chief of Staff, HQ Eastern Command, Chairman DCOC.

Before the match, the closing ceremony set the stage for a memorable evening, beginning 

with an impressive flypast by the Army Aviation ALH and LCH, followed by a breathtaking 

aerial display by LCH. The cultural segment of the ceremony showcased India’s rich heritage with captivating performances including the Paika dance, Kukri, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Bhangra, and a fusion dance that delighted the audience. Furthermore, the spirited performance by local favourite Devesh Lal & Band before and during half-time, kept the energy high and the crowd engaged. 

NorthEast United FC completed a brilliant comeback victory after being two goals down 

to overcome defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant on penalties and clinch the 

133rd IndianOil Durand Cup in a thrilling final played here at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This is the Highlanders maiden Durand Cup title and their first ever silverware in Indian football. 

The defending champions had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half through Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad. Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Guillermo Fernandez equalised in the second half and NorthEast goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh turned the hero, saving two spot kicks to ensure that his side completed the win. Juan Pedro Benali made a tactical decision leaving both Spanish attacking players Guillermo Fernandez and Nestor Albiach on the bench and starting Alaaeddine Ajaraie, 

Jithin M.S and Thoi Singh in attack with the Moroccan midfield duo of Mohammed Ali 

Bemammer and Hamza Regragui along with Mayakkannan Muthu shielding the defence 

led by Michel Zabaco.

 

On the other end, Jose Molina started Jason Cummings and Greg Stewart along with Sahal Abdul Samad in attack with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh providing the width on the pitch. Subhasish Bose returned to the starting eleven and slotted in a back three in defence along with Thomas Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez. 

The nerves of a final were seen in the initial minutes as both teams looked cagey from 

the first whistle but it was the Kolkata side which settled into the game quicker. Sahal Abdul Samad was pulled down by Asheer Akhtar inside the box and the referee had an easy decision to point to the spot. Jason Cummings calmly slotted the resultant penalty in the goal past Gurmeet Singh.

The Highlanders were not close to their best as the players looked out of sorts in the summit clash. Jithin M.S was the only bright spot for them in the half with his marauding runs down the left flank but he could not find any support from his team members as the Mohun Bagan defenders had no trouble in clearing out the attacks. Mohammed Ali Bemammer was substituted due to injury, adding to the troubles to NorthEast United.

The first half definitely belonged to the home side and they cemented it by doubling their advantage, deep into injury time. Liston Colaco found space in the left wing and surged inside the box past Dinesh Singh. The winger poked the ball into the path of Sahal who was free inside the box and the midfielder expertly scored past a diving Gurmeet.

Guillermo Fernandez was brought in for NorthEast while Dimitri Petratos was introduced 

for Mohun Bagan in the start of the second half. The Highlanders looked revitalised with Jithin continuing from where he left off in the first half and Nestor Albiach controlling the midfield. Jithin’s goal bound effort was blocked by Subhasish Bose and it was a sign of 

things to come.

NorthEast United levelled the scores in the blink of an eye with Ajaraie and Guillermo scoring in the space of three minutes to stun the partisan Kolkata crowd. Jithin M.S setup Ajaraie on the edge of the box and the Moroccan slotted the ball into the right corner for the first goal. Minutes later, Ajaraie found Guillermo on the far post and 

the Spanish forward connected first time to leave Vishal Kaith rooted on the spot as the ball flew past him and stung the net for his fifth of the tournament. The Highlanders continued to dominate the match from there on and pushed for the lead, leaving the Mohun Bagan defence and midfield clueless. Macarton Louis and Jithin M.S 

stung the palms of Vishal Kaith with their thunderous efforts as NorthEast kept the 

Mariners on the back foot during this dominant phase of play. 

NorthEast continued to dominate proceedings as Mohun Bagan were looking the shadow 

of their first half performance. The Highlanders pushed for the decisive winning goal and 

created a couple of clear chances but could not take advantage of them. Dimi Petratos’s 

left footed effort which went inches wide of the goal was the only meaningful attempt that 

Mohun Bagan created in the second half as the finals went into penalties. Gurmeet Singh saved the spot kicks of Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose while Vishal Kaith could not produce his heroics from the last rounds as all four penalty takers, Guillermo Fernandez, Michel Zabaco, Parthib Gogoi and Alaaeddine Ajaraie converted 

their respective penalties. Only Jason Cummings, Manvir Singh and Dimitri Petratos could converted the first three penalties for Mohun Bagan.

NorthEast United received a winning purse of INR 60,00,000 while the runners-up purse of INR 30,00,000 was awarded to Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Among the other tournament awards Gurmeet Singh won Golden Glove, Noah Sadaoui 

(6 goals) won the Golden Boot for the highest scorer while Jithin M.S was very deservedly 

awarded the Man of the Tournament award. They all received a cash prize of five lakhs each along with their trophies.

Lt General RC Srikanth, praised the event’s organisation and the competitive spirit 

displayed by the teams, remarking, "The 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup has once again 

proven why it remains one of the most cherished tournaments in the football calendar. 

The dedication and passion displayed by all the teams have been nothing short of inspiring. As we conclude another successful edition, I am filled with pride for the incredible effort put in by the organisers, the players, and the fans. This tournament not only strengthens the football culture in our nation but also continues to build bridges of camaraderie and sportsmanship across borders. We look forward to elevating the Durand Cup to even greater heights in the years to come." The 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup brought together 24 teams from all parts of the country 

and was played across four cities—Kolkata, Shillong, Kokrajhar, and Jamshedpur. The 

tournament witnessed 43 fiercely contested matches, with NorthEast United FC ultimately 

claiming three coveted trophies.

ABOUT DURAND CUP

A symbol of India’s football history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the 

world’s third oldest football tournament. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the 

three Services, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing 

talent, over the years.

The inaugural edition happened in Shimla in 1888 and then the tournament moved to 

New Delhi in 1940, where it was held till 2016. In 2019, the tournament came under the 

aegis of the Eastern Command and moved to the eastern part of the country, with Kolkata, 

the Mecca of Indian football and the Eastern Command Headquarters, being the home 

base. What makes the Durand Cup even more unique is that the winners get three 

trophies, two rotating (Durand Cup and Shimla Trophy) and one for permanent keep 

(President’s Cup).

As we embark on this exciting journey over the coming weeks, let us celebrate the 

beautiful game of football, honour the traditions of the Durand Cup, and look forward to witnessing moments of brilliance that will be etched in our memories for ever.