ISL 2017-18 MATCH REPORT -- NorthEast end their losing streak, trump Goa 2-1 at home
NorthEast United FC edged FC Goa 2-1 in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. Marcinho gave the Highlanders the lead before Manuel Arana equalised for the visitors.
The hosts though had the final say after Seiminlen Doungel struck the winner early on in the second period. The game started off with free-flowing football from both sides, as they took turns to initiate attacks. The home side had the first chance in the sixth minute when Marcinho found fellow Brazilian Danilo Lopes with a through ball. The latter’s shot brought out a top-notch save from Goa custodian Laxmikant Kattimani as he parried it away.
Four minutes later, and Highlanders’ goalkeeper TP Rehenesh was called into action. Arana’s scuffed shot fell kindly for his fellow Spaniard Ferran Corominas at the centre, and although the season’s top scorer could not connect well with his shot, Rehenesh had to make a smart reflex save to prevent the ball from going into the net. It was the hosts, however, who eventually took the lead in the 21st minute, as they worked their Brazilian combination to good effect. Lopes put in a cross from the right towards Marcinho at the centre, and the latter took a deft touch to bring the ball down and then take a shot. The ball deflected slightly off a defender, hit both uprights, but ultimately crept over the goal line to give NorthEast their first goal of the season at home.
Their joy though was short lived as the Gaurs hit back with an equaliser just seven minutes later. Pronay Halder surged forward on the left flank before whipping in a cross. The ball came off Jose Goncalves’ hands, and fell kindly for Arana who tucked it home with a cool finish. Two minutes from half time, and Brandon Fernandes made a run on the left flank before unleashing a fierce shot. Rehenesh met it with a stunning fingertip to help it over the crossbar. That was the last bit of action from an entertaining half as the teams went into the break locked at 1 – 1. The Highlanders restored their lead just seven minutes after the restart. Marcinho’s pass put Doungel in a one-on-one situation with Kattimani, and with the Goa custodian rushing out, Doungel produced a delightful chip to put the ball into the back of the net.
They could have extended their lead right on the hour mark after Kattimani was adjudged to have gathered a back pass inside the penalty box. Marcinho’s shot from the resulting indirect free-kick however, cannoned off the FC Goa wall in front of goal. Lopes should have scored his team’s third six minutes later after being put through on goal by Halicharan Narzary. With only the keeper to beat, Lopes put his shot wide of the target to the disappointment of the home crowd. FC Goa then had two great chances to equalise.
First in the 76th minute, an unmarked Arana received a cross from the left, and with the entire goal at his mercy, his rather tame volley was met with a point-blank save by Rehenesh. Three minutes later substitute Manvir Singh came up with a glaring miss. Following a melee in the box, the ball fell nicely for him in front of an open goal that required only a tap in. The 22-year-old somehow ended up smashing it against the woodwork to the despair of the visitors. Two minutes from time, and NorthEast survived perhaps the biggest scare of the match owing to some incredible defending. Following a corner, Edu Bedia’s powerful header was cleared off the line by a sprawling Reagan Singh who quickly got up to clear Manvir’s follow-up header that was looping into the goal. It summed up the night for the Gaurs as NorthEast secured their first home win of the season.
ISL Media Release
