ISL 2026-27: Alaaeddine Ajaraie sparkles as NorthEast United thumps Kerala Blasters 4-1

File photo: Alaaeddine Ajaraie was involved in three of the four goals – scoring two and setting one up — as NorthEast United continued its perfect record in the league so far. | Photo Credit: ISL Media

Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been a talisman for NorthEast United. He guided NorthEast United to its first-ever silverware, the Durand Cup, in 2024, and also helped it defend the title a year later.

At the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27, he looks to be continuing his form with the Highlanders as he inspired them to a 4-1 win over Kerala Blasters at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here on Sunday.

The Moroccan was involved in three of the four goals – scoring two and setting one up — as NorthEast United continued its perfect record in the league so far.

The hosts were initially held up by Ashley Westwood’s Blasters, who played with a dense midblock to thwart central attacks by Juan Pedro Benali’s side. But the match eventually opened up when NorthEast United started finding spaces through line-breaking grounded passes instead of aerial long balls.

By the 15th minute, the deadlock was broken. Eneko Satrústegui got a pass from Gurmeet Singh at the back and sent in a through ball from back to front as Ajaraie latched onto it, beat Blasters’ goalie Arsh Shaikh before pushing it in expertly with his right foot.

The Blasters suffered another blow from a through ball from Macarton Louis Nickson at the edge of half-time. Macaron’s through pass was received by Jithin MS, who crossed to Ajaraie in the box. Though Hormipam Ruivah blocked Ajaraie’s shot, the Moroccan cut back to Antonio Moyano, who then doubled the lead.

Blasters tried to get back into the game after the break through witty combination play between captain Adrian Luna and new signing Momo Yansane as the latter found the bottom corner in the 60th minute.

But Ajaraie looked on song. In the 70th minute, he intercepted Korou Singh’s failed clearance in the box and curled in a right-footed shot to find his second goal of the night. With their noses comfortably in front, the Highlanders upped the ante with overloads one after the other in the last 10 minutes of the match.

In the 82nd minute, Macarton threaded a pass from the centre to Aman CK on his right, after the Blasters’ young full-back Sumit Singh slipped. The 23-year-old forward marched up the pitch and beat Shaikh to pile on further misery on Westwood’s side.

It was the Blasters’ first loss in the league, with the team beating Inter Kashi 2-0 in its previous match, while the Highlanders climbed to the top of the table with full points from two matches.

NorthEast United will travel to Odisha FC for its next match on October 24, while the Blasters will host Mumbai City FC a day later in Kochi.