Shillong : 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 August 20. The kick off is slated at 7:00 PM IST.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
The winner will advance to the Durand Cup final.
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.
Where to watch NorthEast United FC vs Mohun Bagan Durand Cup 2026 match in India?
Fans can watch NorthEast United FC vs Mohun Bagan SG Durand Cup 2026 match in Sony Sports Network. Sony Liv app will stream it live.
