North East United FC – 2 (Dipu 64’, Gani (P) 90+6’) Sudeva Delhi FC – 0
Guwahati, Friday, September 2nd, 2022:

NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) ended their 131st
IndianOil Durand Cup campaign with a win, overcoming Sudeva Delhi FC (Sudeva) 2 – 0, in a Group
D match, played here at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Captain Dipu Mirdha scored the opener
for the hosts while Gani Ahmed Nigam, converted from the spot in stoppage time of the second half
to round-off a well-earned victory.
NEUFC with this win, finish fourth in the Group while finish their campaign with three points while
Sudeva finish at the bottom of the table with two points.
All 47 games of the 131st IndianOil Durand Cup are being telecast LIVE on Sports18 1 SD & HD
and Sports18 Khel as well as livestreamed on the Over the Top (OTT) platform VOOT!
Sudeva the better team in the first half
Sudeva began the first half brightly and showed attacking intent. They maintained possession of the ball
and created chances.
Sridarth Nongmeikapam broke through inside the box in the second minute itself, but his effort was
feeble and Khoirom Jackson Singh in the NEUFC goal, brought about a comfortable save, his first of
what was going to be a few in the half.
Jackson had to be alert again as Ghanian Issac Kwame Essel and Sukhandeep Singh tested him with
attempted shots from various angles and distances from that same right-hand side, all in the first quarter
of an hour.
NEUFC got one of their own in that time as well, when Dipu Mirdha, the brightest spot by a distance,
in the NEUFC attack, took a long ranger which bounced dangerously close to Sachin Jha in the Sudeva
goal, but he about managed to salvage the situation.
The Highlanders had another chance to score when Sandeep Thapa was found inside the box in some
space. His powerful shot from close from the left-hand side of the Sudeva box, forced Sachin into yet
another tip-over.
Substitutions change fortunes for NorthEast
NorthEast coach Subam Rabha changed personnel in the second half that saw his team play much better
football. They maintained possession and coordinated well to create pressure on the Sudeva defence.
Substitutes Jithin M.S, Emil Benny, Gani Ahmed Nigam along with captain Dipu Mirdha created more
and more chances for the home side.
The first goal then followed in the 64th minute by who else but Dipu Mirdha. Jithin had made a beautiful
run from the left flank, dodging two defenders in the process of penetrating into the box. He then
delivered a cut back pass inside the box and the onrushing Dipu finished with ease.
Minutes later Dipu had a chance to double NEUFC’s lead from a pass by Gani, but the forward blasted
the ball over the bar in front of an open post.
NorthEast continued to maintain possession and did not give Sudeva any chance to create any
meaningful attacks. They sealed the match in the sixth minute stoppage time from a penalty awarded,
when Sudeva keeper Sachin brought down Dipu inside the box, when he was attempting to make the
most of a through engineered by Emil Benny. The same was converted by Gani Ahmed, which was also
the last kick of the match.