Ajaraie Hat-Trick leads NEUFC to record 6-0 win in Super Cup

Riding high on Alaaeddine Ajaraie’s first-ever hat-trick for the club, NorthEast United FC delivered a resounding 6-0 victory over Mohammedan SC to advance to the quarterfinals of the Kalinga Super Cup at the Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday.

The Highlanders showcased a dominant performance, scoring three goals in each half. Jithin MS opened the scoring early (3’), followed by a stellar hat-trick from Alaaeddine Ajaraie (18’, 57’, and 90+3’). Nestor Albiach (42’) and Guillermo Fernandez (66’) also etched their names onto the scoresheet as NorthEast United FC recorded their biggest win in terms of goal margin.

The floodgates opened swiftly for Juan Pedro Benali’s side. A scramble within the penalty area saw the ball fall for Nestor Albiach, whose subsequent cross looped over the Mohammedan SC defence, allowing Jithin MS to tap the ball into an unguarded net.

Having secured an early advantage, NorthEast United FC controlled the game’s tempo with intricate midfield play. The quartet of Mohammed Ali Bemammer, Albiach, Ajaraie, and Guillermo consistently troubled the Mohammedan SC ranks.

In the 18th minute, another well-orchestrated move unfolded. Guillermo located Ajaraie in space on the left. With a clever feint, the Moroccan winger turned his marker, surged into the box, and unleashed a powerful left-footed shot past Subhajit Bhattacharjee, doubling the lead.

Building on their momentum, Benali’s men maintained possession and intensified the pressure on their opponents. The persistence paid off when Jithin MS dispossessed a Mohammedan SC player high up the pitch. He then drove into the box and squared the ball to Albiach, who took a touch to position it onto his favoured left foot before slotting it into the net. The Highlanders went into the halftime break with a 3-0 lead.

NorthEast United FC continued their relentless approach in the second half, heaping further pressure on their opposition. Substitutes Macarton Nickson and Thoi Singh played key roles in the fourth goal.

Macarton found Guillermo unmarked on the right wing, granting the Spaniard ample time and space to pick out Thoi Singh inside the box. Thoi’s initial shot was blocked by Mohammedan SC custodian Bhattacharjee, but the rebound fell kindly for Ajaraie. The ISL Golden Boot winner for the 2024-25 season reacted swiftly, firing the ball home from close range.

Ajaraie, who had a record-breaking 30-goal contribution in the ISL season, was instrumental in the fifth goal. He delivered an intelligent pass to Guillermo, who then cleverly dinked the ball over the onrushing Bhattacharjee to add his name to the scoresheet. In added time, Alaaeddine Ajaraie completed his hat-trick, calmly converting a penalty he himself had earned, sealing the emphatic victory.

NorthEast United FC will now await the winner of the clash between Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC for their Kalinga Super Cup semi-final clash.