Shillong, Aug. 17 -- Alaaeddine Ajaraie smashed a sensational second-half hat-trick to spearhead NorthEast United FC's breathtaking 5-2 comeback win over Shillong Lajong FC in Monday's high-stakes Northeastern derby at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here in Meghalaya.
Battling a 2-1 halftime deficit amidst a torrential downpour, the Highlanders turned the quarter-final clash on its head with a four-goal second-half blitz to storm into the Durand Cup semi-finals.
With this emphatic result, all four semi-finalists for the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup have been officially confirmed: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Sporting Club Delhi, East Bengal FC, and NorthEast United FC.
Setting up for the crucial quarter-final, both sides adopted an attacking 4-3...