Shillong: NorthEast United launched their 135th Durand Cup title defense with a dominant 6-0 win over Bodoland FC. The Group F clash took place Saturday at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. The Highlanders controlled the game from the opening whistle.
Head coach Juan Pedro Benali deployed a 4-4-2 formation. Alaaeddine Ajaraie led the charge. The Moroccan striker opened the scoring during first-half stoppage time. He cushioned the ball and fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Birkhang Daimary. Ajaraie dominated the second half.
Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia scored the second goal in the 58th minute. He finished a low cross from Jithin M.S. Nine minutes later, Ajaraie pounced on a defensive error to lift the ball over Daimary for his second. Redeem Tlang added the fourth. Ajaraie secured his hat-trick in the 86th minute with a piece of individual brilliance. Beating two defenders with sharp footwork, he guided a right-footed shot into the far corner. "Ajaraie completed a memorable hat-trick in the 86th minute with another piece of individual brilliance."
Antonio Moyano grabbed the final goal in stoppage time. He tapped in a cross from Parthib Gogoi. Bodoland head coach Vikash Panthi saw his side struggle against the Highlanders’ sustained pressure. While Bodoland players like Rituraj Mohan and Shubham Sarangi fought hard, the NorthEast attack proved too clinical. NorthEast finished the match with 58 per cent possession.
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