North-east United FC beat Bodoland FC 4-0 to reach the Durand Cup semi-finals, getting ready for an exciting rematch with their rivals Shillong Lajong. The champions, with a strong offence, gave the full crowd at SAI Stadium a lot of goals to cheer for in Kokrajhar on August 16, 2025.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie from Morocco scored two goals. Andy Garcia from Spain also scored, and young player Parthib Gogoi added one more goal at the end.
The Highlanders won big, keeping their title defence strong and showing they are still a team to watch.
[HIGHLIGHTS] Rampaging Highlanders Override Bodoland FC
NorthEast United set a blistering pace from kickoff. They treated the packed SAI Stadium like a war zone, tearing into Bodoland’s defence with wave after wave of attack.
The opening minutes were a frenetic, end-to-end battle, but NEU’s slick counter-attack finally broke the deadlock. In the 29th minute, after a defensive lapse by Bodoland, Jithin MS darted down the right and squared for Ajaraie, who calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to silence the crowd.
That opening strike put Bodoland on the back foot for the rest of the night. The floodgates nearly opened before half-time as Ajaraie beat the keeper in a one-on-one but was denied by a brilliant save.
After the break, NorthEast resumed their relentless onslaught. Eight minutes into the second half (53rd minute), a flowing move orchestrated by skipper Miguel Zabaco freed Andy Garcia in the box, and the Spaniard’s low strike sneaked under the goalie’s gloves for a 2-0 lead.
Just eight minutes later, Ajaraie struck again. Thoi Singh’s cross found him in space; the Moroccan feinted past the last defender and coolly placed the ball into the far corner to make it 3-0, effectively sealing the contest.
Stoppage-Time Flourish and Bodoland’s End
Bodoland, pushed by their loud fans, tried hard to score a goal, but NorthEast’s strong defence and goalkeeper stayed strong. The last exciting moment happened late in stoppage time: substitute Jairo made a great pass to Parthib Gogoi, who calmly lifted the ball into the far corner to finish the game 4-0.
Bodoland’s surprising journey in this Durand Cup ended sadly, while the defending champions moved closer to keeping their title.
FULL-TIME! Bodoland FC 0-4 NorthEast United FC!
We march on! Alae brace, Andy & Parthib’s first goals of the season take us into the semifinals of the Durand Cup…
Let’s Gooooooo! 🔥🔥🔥🔥#StrongerAsOne #8States1United #134theditionofindianoil pic.twitter.com/y2TaiugN9D— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) August 16, 2025
Semifinal Showdown Awaits
The Highlanders had a big win, setting up a great game for the semi-final on August 19 in Shillong. North-east United will face Shillong Lajong again, just like in last year’s semi-final game.
Lajong won their match by coming back to beat the Indian Navy 2-1 in an exciting quarter-final. Goals in the second half by Damaitphang Lyngdoh and Everbrightson Sana turned the game around after they were behind early on.
Now two strong teams from the north-east get ready for a tough match. Feeling very sure of themselves, NEU’s Highlanders seem more like a big wave than a team, and they will try to bring the same strong power that beat Bodoland.
Amit Mishra’s Take
The Highlanders’ quick offense and tough defense showed real power in this quarter-final. Moreover, as they head into the semi-finals, their energy feels strong and powerful, like a big wave that can’t be stopped and is full of excitement.
People in the north-east football community will be watching closely; if this game shows anything, the Highlanders could be on their way to winning another Durand Cup title.
