NewKerala.com

Key Points

NorthEast United FC kicked off their Durand Cup title defence in style with a 3-1 win over Malaysian Armed Forces. Alaaeddine Ajaraie starred with a clinical hat-trick, ensuring NEUFC controlled the game from start to finish. Despite a late goal from the visitors, the Highlanders secured a convincing victory. Their next challenge comes against Shillong Lajong FC in Group E.

Key Points: NEUFC Start Durand Cup Defence with 3-1 Win Over Malaysian Armed Forces

  • Alaaeddine Ajaraie nets hat-trick in Durand Cup opener
  • NEUFC dominate possession with early attacking pressure
  • Malaysian Armed Forces score late consolation goal
  • Highlanders face Shillong Lajong next in Group E
2 min read

Durand Cup 2025: NEUFC begin title defence with 3-1 win over Malaysian Armed Forces

Alaaeddine Ajaraie's hat-trick powers NEUFC to a dominant 3-1 victory in their Durand Cup 2025 opener against Malaysian Armed Forces.

"Alaaeddine Ajaraie picked up right where he left off last season, striking twice in the first half and adding another after the break. – ISL Official Website"

Shillong, August 3

Defending champions NorthEast United FC eased past the Malaysian Armed Forces by a 3-1 scoreline at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in their Durand Cup campaign on Saturday, according to the official website of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Alaaeddine Ajaraie picked up right where he left off last season, striking twice in the first half and adding another after the break to complete his hat-trick.

The Highlanders dominated possession from the outset and created several goal-scoring chances in the opening phase. Juan Pedro Benali's men broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute courtesy of Ajaraie's opening strike.

The hosts doubled their lead within six minutes, and this time it was the Moroccan again. Jithin MS' brilliant pass found Ajaraie in a favourable position, and he made no mistake in putting the ball into the back of the net.

With this, NorthEast United FC went into halftime leading 2-0.

Benali made three substitutions early in the second half, bringing on Chema Nunez, Lallrinzuala, and Asheer Akhtar.

The Malaysian Armed Forces came close twice early in the second half, but they lacked precision in the final third. However, a stunning left-footed shot from Ajaraie helped the Highlanders take control of the match as he put his team 3-0 up.

Despite Mohammed Amir scoring a consolation goal for the Malaysian Armed Forces in the 88th minute, the match ended with a 3-1 scoreline.

The Highlanders will next face a stern test against the current leaders of Group E, Shillong Lajong FC, on August 8.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone new to Indian football, I'm impressed by the quality of play! The Durand Cup seems like a great platform for teams to showcase talent. That hat-trick was world-class 👏
P
Priya S
Northeast teams always bring such energy to football! But defense needs to be tighter - conceding that late goal could be costly against stronger opponents. Still, proud of our boys! #Highlanders
A
Arjun K
Benali's substitutions were spot on today. Bringing in Chema added stability to the midfield. The real test will be against Shillong Lajong - that's when we'll see if they're true title contenders.
N
Nikhil C
The atmosphere at JLN Stadium must have been electric! Wish I could have been there. Indian football is growing and matches like these prove we can compete internationally 🇮🇳⚽
K
Kavya N
While the win is great, we shouldn't get carried away. Malaysian Armed Forces aren't the strongest opponents. Need to see this performance against tougher teams to judge properly.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50