Play-by-Play: NorthEast pull off a huge upset win against Delhi, set up KBFC clash as 'quarter final'

THE HIGHLANDERS rose to the occasion and pulled off a major upset tongiht when they beat Delhi Dynamos 2-1 at Guwahati to keep their top four dreams alive.

It was Delhi who started the game on a more aggressive not and NEUFC faced an early setback when their ace striker Nicolas Velez had to leave with an injury, but they kept their shape, playing 10 men behind the ball almost half the time, and made sure the game went into half-time goalless.

In the second half, NEUFC were slowly gaining a foothold in the game, with their swift wingplay and keen sense for counters. In the back too, they were being effective, walling off Gadze and Rehenesh pulling some good saves. 

It was Seityasen, playing in a much more free role since Velez's departure, who got the first goal. He found a gap in the Delhi box, evaded Souvik and sent a clumsy but on target shot past Doblas from a tight angle. NEUFC took the lead and suddenly the dynamic of the game changed; the home team were now firmly in the lead.

And it wasn't long before they got their second goal. It was a brilliant pass from Alfaro that Romaric put a sublime left-footer on, sending it right past Doblas. Now 2-0 ahead and not long left to play, NEUFC seemed sure to register a win.

Marcelinho took advantage of a defensive lapse and shot one in from close range towards the end of the game. But it was too little too late. Delhi Dynamos, who were looking to go top of the table tonight, fell to NorthEast United's desperate struggles to seek their very first passage into ISL playoffs. 

This win puts NEUFC on 18 points from 13 games, 1 point behind Kerala Blasters. This means when they travel to Kochi on Sunday, they will face off with the 2014 finalists in a do or die battle. A win will take them into the semis, anything less will allow KBFC to go through. 

Delhi Dynamos, now on 20 points from 13 games, will face table toppers Mumbai City on Saturday in a bid to decide who finishes on top of the points table at the end of the league stage.

Here's how the match unfolded, narrated in blow-by-blow detail in our live commentary...