Shillong, Aug 16: There will be no shortage of history when Shillong Lajong FC and NorthEast United FC meet in the fourth quarterfinal of the Durand Cup 2026 at the JN Stadium on Monday. Kick-off will be at 7PM.
The two North East rivals have crossed paths repeatedly in this competition in recent years, with NEUFC emerging victorious every time. Now, with a place in the semifinals at stake, Lajong will look to change that narrative on home soil against the two-time defending champions.
The Highlanders have established themselves as the team to beat in the Durand Cup over the last two editions. Having lifted the trophy in 2024 and 2025, NorthEast United are now chasing a third successive title. Since their last defeat in the 2023 edition, the Guwahati-based side have gone 15 Durand Cup matches unbeaten, a run that has taken them through two title-winning campaigns and into this year’s knockouts.
Their current campaign has followed the same pattern. NorthEast Utd won all three of their Group F matches, scoring 13 goals. They began with a 6-0 victory over Bodoland FC, with Alaaeddine Ajaraie scoring a hat-trick, before securing further wins against Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC and FC1. The defending champions therefore enter the knockout stage with a perfect record and plenty of attacking momentum.
Yet, if NorthEast United’s recent record makes them favourites on paper, their opponents have plenty of reasons to believe this quarterfinal can produce a different result.
The history between these two sides in the Durand Cup is remarkably one-sided.
They have met four times, with NorthEast United winning all four encounters. The Highlanders have scored 10 goals across those matches, while Shillong Lajong have found the net only once.
The first meeting came in the 2023 group stage, when NorthEast United won 4-0, with Parthib Gogoi scoring three times and Romain Philippoteaux adding a penalty.
The following year, the teams met in the semifinals. NorthEast Utd again prevailed, this time 3-0, with goals from Thoi Singh, Ajaraie and Gogoi.
The rivalry continued last year as well. NEUFC won the group-stage meeting 2-1, with Ajaraie scoring twice and Figo Syndai getting Lajong’s goal. The teams then met again in the semis, where Redeem Tlang scored the only goal of the game to send NorthEast Utd into the final.
For Lajong, therefore, this is not simply another knockout match. It is another opportunity against the opponent who has ended their Durand Cup journey in the semifinals in each of the last two editions.
Captain Kenstar Kharshong acknowledged that those defeats remain part of the team’s motivation.
“We have faced NorthEast United in the last two editions of the Durand Cup and both times we came up short in the semifinals. That is something we have not forgotten. But tomorrow is a different game. We have to learn from those experiences, stay focused and give everything on the ground.”
SLFC have enjoyed an encouraging first stage, finishing at the top of Group E with 7 points. Their campaign included a 5-0 victory over Mumbay FC, where Everbrightson Sana scored twice, alongside goals from Abhay Gurung, Tremiki Lamurong and Figo Syndai.
They followed that with a 2-0 win against Nongkseh SSCC and a dramatic 3-3 draw against Langsning FC, a result that secured top spot in the group. Jota scored twice in that contest before Everbrightson restored Lajong’s lead late in the second half, although Langsning eventually found an equaliser in stoppage time.
The performances have highlighted Lajong’s attacking intent, with Jota and Phrangki Buam providing width and movement while the midfield has supported a high-energy approach. Kenstar has also played an important role from the back, including providing the cross for Everbright’s goal against Langsning.
But Lajong enter the quarterfinal without the latter, who is suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the group stage. The absence of their top scorer represents a significant challenge against opponents who have conceded only once in three group matches.
That will place greater responsibility on Jota, Phrangki, Figo and Tremiki, while Lajong will also need their midfielders to contribute in the attacking third. At the back, they will have to remain organised against a Highlanders attack capable of creating goals from several different areas.
NorthEast United’s most obvious danger remains Ajaraie.
The Moroccan forward has already established himself as one of the tournament’s leading scorers, beginning the campaign with a hat-trick against Bodoland. He has also found the net in NorthEast’s other group matches, making him a player Lajong cannot afford to give space around the penalty area.
But Parthib, Lalrinzuala, Redeem, Macarton Louis Nickson and Antonio Moyano have also contributed during the group stage.
That variety makes the Highlanders particularly difficult to contain. Lajong cannot simply focus on Ajaraie; they will have to manage NorthEast’s movement across the entire attacking line while preventing their midfielders from finding runners inside the box.
NorthEast United head coach Juan Pedro Benali is aware of what awaits his team.
“It will be a very difficult game. We’re playing in Shillong, the home ground of the opponents, and it will not be easy,” Benali said.
The coach also highlighted the familiarity between the sides, having faced Lajong repeatedly during his time in charge.
“Lajong is a very difficult team. It’s a team where we know each other very well. Since I’m here, one of the opponents we’re playing all the time is Shillong. They have very good players, very good coach. They know what they’re doing.”
Benali also acknowledged that the Highlanders remain in pre-season and have several new players, meaning the quarterfinal will test how quickly the defending champions can bring their experience and new personnel together when the stakes are highest.
NEUFC’s Redeem Tlang, meanwhile, expects a competitive contest.
“Tomorrow’s match will be a good test for us. We know the opponent is playing good at the moment, so we are expecting a competitive game. We have prepared well for this match, and we’ll be ready to give our best on the pitch,” the Meghalayan said.
(Durand Cup photos)