Back-to-back winners NorthEast United lock horns with record winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the repeat of the 2024 final for a mouthwatering battle in the semifinal stage of the 2026 Durand Cup in Shillong. The winners will face East Bengal in the final.
NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 Match Details
Date: 20 August 2026
Kick-off Time: 19:00
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong
NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 Match Preview
However, the hosts had other ideas, as they not only equalized in the 20th minute but also got themselves in the lead 14 minutes later to take a 2-1 advantage at half-time. But it is hard to contain when your opponents possess a striker like Ajaraie, and he inspired the reversal for the holders in the second half. The Moroccan scored a stunning hat-trick with new signing Ethyan Gonzalez and later Jithin MS completing the stunning turnaround.
It was a show of champions' mentality from Juan Pedro Benali’s men, who showed that they can shine in the face of adversity in the crucial stage of the competition after blazing past the group stages with three wins out of three and scoring 13 goals. Yet, the challenge only gets more severe from the Northeast as they are about to face Mohun Bagan in the semifinal stage, standing in their way of making a third consecutive Durand Cup final.
Only Bagan’s rivals East Bengal have the feat of winning three titles on the trot in this competition, and the Highlanders will edge closer to matching that feat, possibly facing the Red and Gold themselves in the final, if they manage to silence the other half of Kolkata in the tie hosted in Shillong as well.
Interestingly, the Mariners lost their title defense in 2024, facing the same opponents of their semifinal tie this edition on penalties, even after going 2-0 up at half-time. They had to go through another shootout since then in the quarterfinal against Jamshedpur FC but ended on the winning side this time. After dominating the group stage by scoring a stunning 15 goals and without conceding a goal, Mohun Bagan surprisingly struggled in the least expected fixture against an all-Indian side that was playing their final game before pulling the plug on first team operations and transferring their license to Churchill Brothers.
Despite taking the lead very early in the game from a defensive mistake, the two-time ISL Shield winners failed to add to their advantage, allowing the Red Miners to come back into the match with the ever-reliant Vishal Kaith fluffing a long drive towards goal onto the path of Devendra Murgaonkar to equalize just before half-time. It was the first goal they conceded all tournament. The Chennaiyin keeper was able to redeem himself later by saving the crucial penalty when the game eventually went to tiebreakers, which was long and grueling, to say the least, with the Kolkata giants prevailing 9-8 at last.
Even after progressing, coach Panagiotis Dilmperis was not happy with the team’s performance in a game they were expected to dominate but surprisingly lacked the attacking impetus that defined them in the group stage. He will be urging the attack to fire again as they will lock horns against the back-to-back winners, NorthEast United, that too travelling to Shillong and not in the comfort of Salt Lake. The record winners are in a tough spot after the last battle, but they know they have to seek revenge for the showpiece defeat two years ago to keep themselves alive for the first silverware of the season.
NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 Team News
NorthEast United might stick to the XI that triumphed against Lajong in the quarterfinals, with the only possible change coming in the right-back, as Dinesh Singh could replace Abdul Rabeeh if Benali opts for more solidity. The attack is once again led by Ajaraie, who has already netted nine with two sensational hat-tricks in this competition and is leading the scoring chart as usual. The 33-year-old has scored twice in three games against the Mariners, including in the 2024 final. New signing Gonzalez and Jithin, both scorers in the quarterfinal, will flank him once again. There is no injury crisis for Highlanders, but their opponents Mohun Bagan have a series of them.
Summer signing Miguel Ferreira was said to be carrying an injury that kept him out of action so far and is likely to stay out of the semifinal battle. Another arrival, Dejan Drazic, is expected to join him on the sidelines after being substituted with an issue towards the end of the first half against Jamshedpur. Manvir Singh could be shifted onto the wing in that case, allowing Jamie Maclaren to make his first start of the season, while winger Liston Colaco might be dropped due to miserable form. Apuia could start once again alongside Anirudh Thapa in the midfield against his former club despite having fitness concerns, as another new face, Samir Zeljković, looks out of touch.
NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 Predicted Lineups
NorthEast United
Gurmeet Singh, Dinesh Singh, Asheer Akhtar, Eneko Plano, Redeem Tlang, Antonio Moyano, Mayakkanan, Louis Nickson, Etyan Gonzalez, Alaaeddine Ajaraie, and Jithin MS
Mohun Bagan
Vishal Kaith, Abhi Meitei, Rahul Bheke, Alberto Rodriguez, Subhasish Bose, Apuia, Anirudh Thapa, Manvir Singh, Sahal Samad, Sayan Banerjee, and Jamie Maclaren
NorthEast United vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 Match Prediction
Both teams meet at a crucial crossroads in the tournament in the semifinal tie that could eclipse even the excitement around the final. Benali’s men will be desperate to maintain their dominance in the Durand Cup, more so when the last-four tie is being played almost in their own backyard and having troubled the Mariners before. On the other hand, Mohun Bagan will be wanting to refigure themselves after a dull quarterfinal show, making a comeback mentality as an inspiration.
However, their inability to open up organized defenses was exposed against Jamshedpur, with the lack of cutting edge despite having an in-form Manvir Singh and Sahal, coupled with injuries to Drazic and Miguel, is indeed concerning. Despite the Highlanders' defensive lapses, they possess a formidable attack led by the tournament’s top scorer, Ajaraie, who poses a challenge to even the most solid defenses, such as Bagan's. With the additional factor of the tie being played in familiar surroundings, NorthEast might book another ticket to the final. It could be another cagey affair between the two ISL sides, with another shootout required as the decider.
FT: NorthEast United 1-1 Mohun Bagan—NorthEast United wins on penalties
