NorthEast United FC 6-1 Diamond Harbour FC Player Ratings: Ajaraie rated 9/10 as NorthEast United crowned champions of Durand Cup 2025

NorthEast United FC crowned champions of Asia's oldest tournament after defeating Diamond Harbour FC 2-0 in the Durand Cup Final held at The Vivekananda Yuba Bharathi Krirangan, Kolkata on 23rd August 2025. Both teams displayed a compact game during the initial minutes with occasional attempts to attack. Once the 10-minute cross was completed, Diamond Harbour was seen making back-to-back towards the NorthEast goal from the wings, but almost every time, the Highlanders were composed and defended well. Later, the tables turned as NorthEast settled into the game and started crafting the attacks, which created huge trouble for Diamonds. In the 30th minute, Mayakkannan took a shot from a tight angle off a poorly defended corner, which was spilt away by the keeper back to the 6-yard box, where Asheer Akthar was lurking. The defender properly connected the ball and tapped it inside the goal to open the accounts for NorthEast. Just at the stroke of half-time, Parthib Gogoi made a run from the right inside the box, to take a shot at goal to double the advantage for his side, and at half-time the score was 2-0. In the second half, it was a goal galore as Thoi Singh (51st min), Luka Macjen (58th min), Jairo (84th min), Andy (86th min) and Alaaeddine Ajaraie (90+4th min) found the back of the net to seal the 6-1 victory for NorthEast United FC. Here are the NorthEast United FC vs Diamond Harbour FC Player Ratings.

NorthEast United FC Player Ratings

Here are the NorthEast United FC Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Gurmeet Singh - 6.5/10

The keeper was alert throughout the game and came out of the line to keep the threats away. Gurmeet had his fingertips whenever the Diamonds tried to score. Couldn't have anything to do when the opponents scored their goal, but in essence, the keeper was reliable at the back.

Defenders

Samte - 6.5/10

Defended well whenever Joby Justin and Ajith Kumar made some ventures into the attack. However, in some situations, Samte was muscled off by the opponents with their physicality, and this created some trouble for NorthEast.

Michel Zabaco - 6.5/10

Zabaco was solid in the backline, marshalling the defence, making clearances and blocks during the Diamonds' attacks. Had a great role in dispossessing the opponents and winning back the ball. Provided a good number of long balls to the attacking third, contributing offensively.

Asheer Akthar - 7/10

Asheer was a bit nervous and made some errors in decision-making, and gave away the ball cheaply on multiple occasions. Was clever and opened the accounts for NorthEast after capitalising on a mistake from Mirshad.

Redeem Tlang - 6/10

Redeem supported his winger offensively by providing some lovely long balls. Was booked by the referee for a rash foul. From then the player was seen playing riskily and was subbed off by the gaffer.

Midfielders

Mayakkannan - 6.5/10

Mayakkannan took a solid shot on target, which, though it went straight to the keeper, was slipped away towards Asheer Akthar, who tapped in to break the deadlock.

Andy Rodriguez- 7/10

Andy remained central in the midfield and did well winning duels, making interceptions and providing through balls and key passes into the attacking third, along with taking the backseat whenever Diamonds made attacks. Scored the 5th goal for his side, marking the nail in the coffin.

Chema Nunez - 6/10

Got a golden opportunity to double the advantage for his side, which Nunez surprisingly missed. Could have done better on multiple occasions in the game.

Forward

Thoi Singh - 7/10

Thoi came in to the lineup instead of Jithin, and he consistently kept the ball away from Mandi whenever the full back moved forward with the ball. Had some chances to take advantage in the attacking third, but fumbled under pressure. In the second half, Thoi got off to mark after easily tapping in the carpet cross from Ajaraie.

Parthib Gogoi - 7/10

Parthib, right from the kickoff, challenged the keeper, knocking on the doors quite early to put pressure upon the opponents. Doubled the lead for NorthEast, just at the stroke of half-time.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie - 9/10

Ajaraie assisted the second NorthEast goal, and apart from that, he did not have much involvement in the first half, other than receiving a yellow card following a dive in the penalty box. In the second half, he came into power as the Moroccan once again assisted the Thoi Singh goal and Andy goal and even scored the 6th goal for his side to seal the victory for the Highlanders. Was constantly attacking and piling pressure on the opponents and had a pivotal role in the victory.

Substitutes

Dinesh - 6/10

Jairo - 7/10

Came in as a substitute and scored the 4th goal for his side.

Macarton - 6/10

Jithin MS - NA

Manager

Juan Pedro Benali - 8/10

Juan would be thoroughly satisfied with his team's performance, as his side had provided a goal galore delight for the NorthEast fans. Experimented the players properly throughout the season, and his mastermind helped the Highlanders lift back-to-back Durand Cup titles.

Diamond Harbour FC Player Ratings

Here are the Diamond Harbour FC Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mirshad Michu - 4/10

Mirshad, after a stunning semi-final performance, had a terrible day in the back as the keeper was unable to simply hold the ball in his hands, and such slips led to the opponents scoring on multiple occasions. Mirshad came out of his line to clear the ball, but almost every time, he was defeated by the opponents. Was able to simply keep the ball away and was punished by the opponents.

Defenders

Robilal Mandi - 4.5/10

Took a good corner kick in the 68th minute, which led to his side scoring the opener, providing them a moment of hope. Was, however, terrible in the defence, unable to resist the opponent to a large extent.

Mikel Kortazar - 5/10

Kortazar put in an immense workload and was equally present both in the attack and the defence. Posed as a threat to the Highlanders during set-pieces and made some tactical fouls whenever Ajaraie moved forward with the ball.

Sairuatkima - 4.5/10

Was average in the defence as the player left a lot of space in the backline, which was punished badly by the opponents. Did not have proper man-marking or communication

Ajith Kumar - 5.5/10

Ajith was decent on the right wing, but Parthib Gogoi made his job a bit difficult, and whenever both Parthib and Ajaraie made some combination plays, it was too much for him to handle.

Midfielders

Samuel - 5/10

Samuel was given the duty of taking the free kicks for the Harbour Boys, but he disappointed by skying the ball over the goal. He was involved in most of the attacking initiatives of his side, but none of them got a result.

Liansanga - 5/10

Liansanga was able to create a compact midfield in the initial minutes of the game, but as the game progressed, he was unable to regroup his teammates and maintain the same solidarity. Individually, the player was decent in the middle third.

Paul Ramfangzauva - 5/10

Made some good moves and won free kicks at dangerous positions. Apart from that, there was not much contribution from the player's side.

Forward

Girik - 6/10

Girik threatened the Highlanders with his pace, flicks, and crosses from the left flank. Made a mockery out of the opponent defenders with his accelerated dribbles. Got a yellow card in the 59th minute and was immediately subbed off after that.

Luka Macjen - 6/10

Luka Macjen was completely silenced by the opponent defenders and did not have any significant impact throughout the match. Luckily, in the second half, a header from Joby deflected off him and opened the accounts for his side.

Joby Justin - 6.5/10

Joby Justin was a potent threat to the NorthEast defenders as he consistently won the ball from the opponents and took some powerful shots at goal. Took a header which deflected Luka Macjen and provided the lifeline for his side.

Substitutes

Bryce Miranda - 6/10

Naresh - 5.5/10

Shreshtha - 5.5/10

Tharpuia - NA

Manager

Kibu Vicuna - 5/10

Though the gaffer had a dominating tournament so far, somewhere in the line, his team was unable to perform under pressure and

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Alaaeddine Ajaraie.