Defending champions NorthEast United FC will face 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the second semi-final of the 135th Durand Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday.
The match will kick off at 7 pm.
NorthEast United are seeking a place in their third consecutive final and remain in contention for a third straight Durand Cup title.
The Highlanders reached their fourth consecutive semi-final after beating Shillong Lajong FC 5-2 in the quarter-final. They trailed 2-1 at half-time before scoring four unanswered goals in the second half.
Mohun Bagan, the most successful club in the tournament with 17 titles, entered the semi-final after beating Jamshedpur FC in a penalty shootout.
The Mariners went through the group stage without conceding a goal before being held 1-1 by Jamshedpur in regulation time. They won the subsequent sudden-death shootout 9-8, with goalkeeper Vishal Kaith playing a key role.
Benali expects tough contest
NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali said his side faced a difficult challenge against Mohun Bagan.
“It’s the semi-final of the Durand Cup, a very important game for us, and also for Mohun Bagan,” Benali said. “It will not be easy for either team. We’re talking about an opponent where nearly all their domestic players are national team regulars, combined with highly talented foreign players and a great coach.”
Mohun Bagan’s newly appointed head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis will also be looking for his first silverware with the club ahead of the ISL 2026-27 season.
“Panos is a friend, but inside the field, there are no friends. He is a great coach leading a very good team,” Benali said.
Mohun Bagan hold the advantage in the head-to-head record, having won 10 of the 13 previous meetings between the sides. NorthEast United have won twice, while one match ended in a draw.
Both teams have fully fit squads for the semi-final.
Ajaraie, Sahal among players to watch
NorthEast United will again look to Moroccan forward Alaaeddine Ajaraie, who scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final victory over Shillong Lajong.
Spanish centre-back Eneko Satrustegui will be tasked with containing a Mohun Bagan attack featuring Jamie Maclaren, Dejan Drazic and Liston Colaco.
For Mohun Bagan, attacking midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad has scored five goals in the tournament, while Subhasish Bose has been central to their defensive organisation.
NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh said his side would need to remain focused throughout the contest.
“My expectation is to start the game with the right mentality, stay focused from the first minute, and give everything for the team,” Gurmeet said. “We’ve worked hard in training, and now it’s about executing our plan on the pitch. Hopefully, we can put in a strong performance and get the result we want.”
“They are a good side and we know they will give us a tough game. They have quality players and will look to put us under pressure, so we have to be disciplined and focused throughout the 90 minutes. For us, the key will be to stay compact, win our individual battles, and take our chances when they come. We respect them, but we are confident in our own ability as well.”