GUWAHATI: Mohun Bagan Super Giant booked their place in the final of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup after defeating defending champions NorthEast United FC 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Thursday, August 20.
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Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith emerged as the hero for the Mariners, making two crucial saves in the shootout to secure their passage to the final.
Mohun Bagan will now face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in a Kolkata Derby final on Sunday, August 23.
NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali made two changes to his starting XI, bringing in defenders Soraisham Dinesh Singh and Pramveer Singh in place of Asheer Akhtar and Macarton Louis Nickson. Mohun Bagan head coach Panagiotis Dilimperis also made two changes, handing starts to Samir Zeljkovic and Kiyan Nassiri in place of Anirudh Thapa and Dejan Dražić.
Both teams struggled to establish control in midfield during the opening 20 minutes, with the wet conditions making it difficult to build sustained passing moves. The sides frequently resorted to long balls over the defensive line in search of attacking opportunities.
The first shot on target came midway through the first half when Liston Colaco's free-kick forced an excellent save from NorthEast United goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh. Moments later, Kiyan Nassiri chose to shoot from a tight angle instead of finding his teammates inside the box, but his effort went into the side-netting.
At the half-hour mark, NorthEast United's Alaaeddine Ajaraie narrowly missed the post with a volley after bringing down a high ball from a set-piece. With the wet conditions restricting open play, set-pieces became an important source of attacking opportunities, with both sides earning three corners during the period.
Just before half-time, Sahal Abdul Samad won possession in the centre of the pitch and attempted an audacious long-range effort with Gurmeet Singh backpedalling. The goalkeeper recovered in time to deny the attempt as the teams went into the break level at 0-0.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with neither side able to create clear-cut opportunities. NorthEast United came closest to breaking the deadlock around the hour mark when Ajaraie narrowly failed to connect with a low cross from the right by Abdul Rabeeh.
Ajaraie was involved again moments later, collecting a long ball on the left before sending a cross into the box. Etyan Gonzalez rose to meet it but could not direct his header towards the target.
With neither side able to find a breakthrough, the match went straight to a penalty shootout after ending 0-0 in regulation time.
Both teams converted their first three penalties to keep the shootout evenly poised. Robin Yadav then stepped up for NorthEast United's fourth attempt, but Vishal Kaith produced a brilliant save.
Jamie Maclaren calmly converted Mohun Bagan's next penalty to put the Mariners ahead before Kaith made another outstanding save, denying Parthib Gogoi and sealing Mohun Bagan's 4-3 victory.
The win sets up a Kolkata Derby final against East Bengal on Sunday, with Mohun Bagan now one match away from lifting the Durand Cup.
