NorthEast United 6-1 Diamond Harbour LIVE Score, Durand Cup 2025 Final: Ajaraie Shines In Dominant Title Defence

It's all over at the Salt Lake Stadium, and what a performance it has been from NorthEast United! Alaeddine Ajaraie was the star of the show tonight, and NEUFC defend their Durand Cup title.

No mistake from Ajaraie, shotting hard and upwards, with the ball hitting the top post and crashing back into the goal. Eighth goal of the tournament for the Moroccan, and NEUFC score six in the Durand Cup final - the first time this has happened since 1896!

Diamond Harbour almost get a goal as Bryce shoots from inside the box, but Gurmeet saves it with his feet. NorthEast break forward, and Ajaraie shoots from outside the box, hitting the left post before being brought down at the edge of the box by Ruatkima. A penalty!

The regulation ninety minutes are up, and the fourth official indicates a minimum of four minutes to be played.

A Spanish double at the end, and NorthEast complete their rout. Ajaraie does excellently to get beyond his marker and then crosses it down the ground. Andy comes sliding in, and he manages to get it over Mirshad to score NEUFC's fifth goal.

Ajaraie wins a free-kick in a dangerous area. The ball is floated into the box. Mirshad comes forward to collect the ball but spills it, and Diamond Harbour defenders can clear it only as far as substitite Jairo. The Spaniard takes it on his right and shoots from 25 yards out, and the ball nestles itself into the bottom corner.

NorthEast United make their final change of the night, with Jithin MS coming on for Thoi Singh. His fresh legs will be key to wane off Diamond Harbour's resurgence in the match.

Well, well, well. Is there a twist in the tale? A corner from Mandi misses everyone. Joby Justin has a low header, almost in slow motion, and the ball starts creeping in towards the left corner. Majcen helps it goalwards, and Gurmeet is wrong footed. A lifeline for DHFC!

Gurmeet makes a good save from Liansanga to preserve NEUFC's clean sheet. NorthEast make a double change, bringing on Macarton and Jairo. Parthib and Chema Nunez come off.

A good cross from the left by Girik finds Paul in the box. Gurmeet was brave in diving at the feet of the attacker to steal the ball, and grabs on to it in the second attempt.

Girik earns a yellow card after a challenge, and it looks like a harsh decision from the ref. He immediately gets subbed off, with Diamond Harbour making a double change. Bryce comes on in his place, and Ajith Kumar replaces Naresh.

A deft touch frees up Alaeddine Ajaraie down the left flank. The Moroccan puts on the afterburners and runs with the ball, crossing down the ground across the face of the goal. Thoi Singh had made the run and scores the easiest of tap-ins you'll see in a final. NorthEast have one hand on the cup.

Both players are out on the pitch, and the seocnd half is underway. Dinesh Singh Soraisham comes on for NEUFC, replacing Redeem, who was lucky not get earn two yellow cards in the first half.

Despite Diamond Harbour's domination of the match early on, it's defending champions NorthEast United who go into the break two goals up. Lethal play from the NEUFC forwards, and Mirshad's goalkeeping has not helped matters.

What a finish from Partheeb Gogoi to take a two-goal lead right before half-time. The forward is playeed through and runs with it, taking a shot from inside the box, beating Mirshad at the far post.

John Abraham celebrates in the VVIP box like he was out on the pitch!

Having muscled his way into the box, Ajaraie takes a massive tumble and appeals for a penalty. The referee walks up to him and then books him for diving.

Two minutes of added time to be played.

Samte becomes the second NEUFC player to get booked after bringing down Joby, preventing DHFC from launching a counter. However, the pressure is all on the Diamond Harbour side, dealing with relentless Highlanders attacks.

Parthib receives the ball down the left edge of the box and has a shot with his right aimed at the far post. Mirshad dives and does well to keep it out, but can't hold on to the ball yet again. It falls to Thoi, but his shot is wide off the near post.

NorthEast capitalise on the pressure. DHFC fail to clear Andy's ross into the box, and NEUFC has a shot on goal that's straight at Mirshad. The goalkeeper fails to hold on to it, and Asheer Akhtar is there in the right place to poke the rebound into an empty net.

Questions will be asked of Mirshad, who really should have done better with the initial effort.

Joby is everywhere on the pitch at the moment. The forward is played through down the right after Diamond Harbour win the ball in the midfield. He takes it away, making the chance harder, but has a shot away which hits the side netting.

Diamond Harbour are looking dangerous at the moment, winning all the 50-50 challenges. Girik does very well to get past his marker and whip in a fast cross, and Joby Justin has a first-time header towards the near post. Gurmeet does very well to get down and hold on to the ball. First shot on target for the Bengal-based side.

A challenge from behind on Girik by Redeem, and the NorthEast right-back earns the first yellow card of the game. The resulting free-kick is crossed across the face of the goal by Joby, and Kortazar almost gets a header on it but fails to control the ball.

A long throw from Justin is almost flicked goalwards by Majcen, but NorthEast clear. Diamond Harbour are a real threat on set pieces.

Most of the match is being played along the half-way line. NorthEast are trying to stretch the game with the use of their wings, while Diamond Harbour are mainly relying on long balls to find their powerful forwards. At the moment, no further shots from either side.

Diamond Harbour are nothing if not fearless, and they are pressing the NorthEast players relentlessly in the midfield. Joby Justin wins the ball in the middle of the park and has a low grounded effort from a long way away, and then promptly raises his hand in apology once it goes wide.

After a cagey beginning, NorthEast get the first shot on target, and who else to do it but Ajaraie? The Moroccan has a snap shot from 30 yards out, and it swings outwards. Mirshad makes a meal of it, failing to catch it first time, but the DHFC goalie grabs on to it the second time.

The referee blows his whistle, and the Durand Cup final is underway. The conditions are not easy, with the rain being persistently falling. However, we are all hoping for a cracking match!

The players are out on the pitch on a drizzly evening at the Salt Lake Stadium. We'll go through the pre-match formalities, and then it's kick off time! John Abraham is also in the stadium.

With less than half-an-hour to kick-off, a couple of stats from both sides:

• NorthEast United FC have not lost a match in Durand Cup in 725 days

• The Highlanders can also become the first team in 34 years since East Bengal to defend their Durand Cup title

• Diamond Harbour can become the FIRST debutants to win the Durand Cup history

Mirshad K. Michu (gk); Mikel Kortazar, Robilal Mandi, Sairuatkima; Lalliansanga Renthlei, Paul Ramfangzauva, Ajith Kumar; Joby Justin (c); Samuel Lalmuanpuia, Girik Khoshla, Luka Majcen

Gurmeet Singh (gk); Buanthanglum Samte, Michel Zabaco (c), Asheer Akhtar, Redeem Tlang; Chema Nunez, Mayakkannan Muthu, Andy Rodriguez; Alaeddine Ajaraie, Parthib Gogoi, Thoi Singh

Here's last year's Durand Cup final hero Gurmeet Singh speaking about NorthEast United's season and more...

Tonight's finalists NorthEast United FC won last year's Durand Cup final in one of the most dramatic manners. Facing Indian Super League (ISL) heavyweights Mohun Bagan Super Giant, NEUFC trailed 2-0 by half-time courtesy of goals from Jason Cummings and Sahal Abdul Samad.

The Highlanders fought back in the second half, with Alaaeddine Ajaraie and substitute Guillermo Fernandez scoring within three minutes to level the scores.

The match went to penalties, and Gurmeet Singh was the hero of the night after making two saves to secure a 4-3 win in the shootouts.

The Durand Cup final between North East United FC and Diamond Harbour FC will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website. The TV broadcasts will take place on the Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 2 HD channels.

You can also follow the live scores and updates on Outlook India for free.

Good evening, football fans! This is the start of our live coverage of tonight’s Durand Cup final. It’s defending champions NEUFC versus debutants DHFC today. The action at Salt Lake Stadium kicks off at 5:30 PM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.