Durand Cup 2025: Alaaeddine Ajaraie's Stunning Hat-Trick Helps NorthEast United FC Beat Malaysian Armed Forces By 3-1

NorthEast United has secured a dominating 3-1 victory over Malaysian Armed Forces in the Group E fixture of the Durand Cup 2025, as the referee has sounded the final whistle.

Eight minutes added to the total time!

In the 88th minute of the game, Muhamad Amir gave the Malaysian Armed Forces a consolation goal.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie's excellent finish in the 70th minute finally earned him a hat-trick. The Highlanders took control of the game thanks to a spectacular left-footed goal from Ajaraie.

Thanks to a brace by Alaaeddine Ajaraie, NorthEast United led the game by two goals at the end of the first half. NorthEast United, the reigning champs, dominated the opening half.

Ajaraie gets his brace with a quick successive goal for NorthEast United in the 29th minute.

It didn't take long for NorthEast to gain the upper hand. After the opposition's slow defence, Ajaraie quickly entered the game and scored in the 22nd minute.

The first 15 minutes of the match were pretty exciting, but neither team has scored.

The match will kick off at 7:00 PM IST and shall be live streamed on Sony LIV App in India. The telecast of the same will be in Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 2 HD TV channels.

The defending champions NorthEast United FC are all set to kick off their Durand Cup 2025 campaign against Malaysian Armed Forces. This is the first match for NorthEast United in Group E, and they will be looking to start strong as they aim to defend their title.

The Malaysian side had a tough start, losing 6–0 to Shillong Lajong in their opening match. They’ll be hoping to bounce back quickly, but facing a strong side like NorthEast United won’t be easy.

For the Malaysian Armed Forces, this game is about learning fast and trying to stay competitive in a tough group. A win here will help NorthEast United build momentum for the rest of the group stage. For the Malaysian team, it’s a chance to improve and make a mark in Indian football.