Arjun Chakraborty
GUWAHATI, August 2: NorthEast United FC's opening performance in the Durand Cup 2026 had all the ingredients of a perfect Bollywood blockbuster.
Moroccan star Alaaeddine Ajaraie marked his return in sensational fashion scoring a hat-trick, club owner John Abraham cheered passionately from the stands, head coach Juan Pedro Benali pulled the strings from the touchline, and a packed Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium created an electrifying atmosphere. With everything falling perfectly into place, the Highlanders delivered a performance worthy of the occasion.
Defending champions NorthEast United FC launched the defence of their Durand Cup title in emphatic style, thrashing Bodoland FC 6-0 in their tournament opener at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Saturday.
Ajaraie stole the show with a brilliant hat-trick, while Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia, Redeem Tlang and Antonio Moyano also found the net as the Highlanders produced a dominant display from start to finish.
The contest was a tale of two halves. Bodoland FC showed resilience in the opening 45 minutes, matching NorthEast's intensity and frustrating the defending champions for long periods. However, the second half turned into a one-sided affair as NorthEast United shifted gears and overwhelmed their opponents with wave after wave of attacks.
The packed stadium witnessed one of NorthEast United's finest performances in recent years. It was one of the biggest crowds, nearly 20,000, seen at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in a long time, and the fans were treated to a historic victory. The 6-0 triumph is now the club's biggest winning margin in Guwahati, surpassing their previous best of a 5-0 victory over Jamshedpur FC in an Indian Super League match in 2025.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances in the first half, the Highlanders had to wait until first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock. Ajaraie finally opened the scoring, giving his side a deserved lead heading into the break.
Bodoland began the second half with renewed intent, earning an early corner and showing greater attacking ambition. Substitute Manabir Basumatary impressed with a series of timely tackles, while Rituraj Mohan and Diengdoh looked to trouble the NorthEast defence down the right flank.
Their resistance, however, was short-lived.
NorthEast United quickly regained complete control and never allowed Bodoland a route back into the contest. Lalrinzuala doubled the lead in the 58th minute, setting the tone for a ruthless attacking display.
Ajaraie struck again nine minutes later after Macarton Louis Nickson's dangerous delivery created confusion inside the Bodoland penalty area. A defensive lapse left the ball loose, and the Moroccan forward reacted quickest, delicately chipping the advancing goalkeeper Daimary to make it 3-0.
The Highlanders continued to pour forward, and Redeem Tlang added the fourth goal in the 70th minute with a composed finish.
Ajaraie completed his memorable hat-trick in the 86th minute with another moment of individual brilliance, before substitute Antonio Moyano rounded off the scoring with a stoppage-time strike to cap a perfect evening for the defending champions.
PHOTO CAPTION: Ajaraie (right) celebrates after scoring NEUFC’s opening goal. Photo: Subhamoy Bhattacharjee