Shillong, Aug 30: Defending champions Mohun Bagan will face an in-form NorthEast United FC in the final of the 133rd Durand Cup 2024, which will be played on Saturday in Kolkata at Salt Lake Stadium.
Bagan were stretched in both their knockout matches by Punjab FC and Bengaluru FC, winning on penalties, and will have their task cut out against a NorthEast side who have been clinical throughout the tournament. They got the better of Indian Army 2-0 and Shillong Lajong FC 3-0 in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively.
Mohun Bagan will have the backing of their loyal supporters and coach Jose Molina talked about the home advantage for his team in tomorrow’s match. “I think it’s really good to have home support but on the pitch it will be 11 players taking on 11 players,” he said at the pre-match press conference today. “So it’s never an advantage to play in front of the home crowd. There will be pressure as the home side but the players are experienced enough to handle that.”
Mohun Bagan star forward Greg Stewart said, “I feel a bit pressured to play in front of the home crowd because it is a do or die match. It’s going to be a tough match tomorrow against a very good NorthEast side.”
On the other hand, Highlanders coach Juan Pedro Benali sounded excited to play in front of the Kolkata crowd, saying, “It’s fantastic to play in front of such an amazing crowd in Kolkata. There is nothing to lose for us. We have played good football and have come here to give our best in front of such an amazing crowd, fantastic city and amazing people.”
Vishal Kaith has been in terrific form between the posts for the Mariners and will be once again key for them along with the star studded attack line of Dimitri Petratos, Greg Stewart, Jason Cummings, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh. NorthEast United’s defence, led by their captain Michel Zabaco and Moroccan Hamza Regragui, have let in just a solitary goal in the whole tournament.
Mohun Bagan have let in five goals in the two knockout matches and will look to rectify their mistakes against the solid attack line that consists of Jithin MS, Nestor Albiach and Guillermo Fernandez, who are constantly supplied balls from the midfield by the mercurial Moroccan, Mohammed Ali Bemammer.
“NorthEast is a very good team. We have seen that throughout the tournament. They have good wingers. But we have full confidence in our boys and we will give our best on the pitch tomorrow”, Molina said about the opposition.
“We are here to give our 100% and win the trophy,” said NEUFC captain Michel Zabaco. “They have are a very good team and have solid individual players but we will be playing to our game plan and come away with a win.”
One team will either win a record breaking 18th Durand Cup title (Bagan) or the other team will take home their first ever Durand Cup (NorthEast United) and Benali signed off by saying, “We have our weapons and they have theirs and it is going to be a terrific game and at the end of the match we will be congratulating the best team.”
(Durand Cup media photo)
