For a side loaded with young talent, NorthEast United FC had never quite lived up to expectations. Indeed, that would be an understatement considering the fact that they finished eighth in last year’s ISL and lost all their last five matches.
But the noisy 30,319 crowd at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati still had their hopes high, ahead of Thursday’s clash with FC Goa. Despite losing their opening two matches against a strong Kerala Blasters side and then an equally tough FC Pune City squad, the “Highlanders” (as NorthEast United are known) were not short of confidence, considering this was their first home game of the season.
Goa came into the clash in a better position but with the scars of the humiliation at home against Chennai still raw. A win would do them a world of good.
NorthEast make a promising start
The home team are known for quick build-up plays, darting runs from the flanks and sharp counter attacks. They certainly played to their strengths initially. After a few promising moves which ended up in nothing, NorthEast and their fans had reasons to cheer in the 12th minute.
A cross from the left flank sailed over Nicolas Velez, the intended target, but found its way to Sanju Pradhan on the right. The versatile winger sped past FC Goa left back Debabrata Roy with ease and lifted a cross which striker Francis Dadzie expertly headed into the goal across the goalkeeper Kattimani, giving a measure of relief to the home team.
While NorthEast coach Cesar Farias could afford a smile, FC Goa coach Zico was livid. His decision to leave out marquee player Lucio on the bench seemed to have backfired.
NorthEast stepped up a gear and should have extended their lead, but were wasteful. Pradhan latched onto an excellent through ball but passed it to Dadzie who could not connect. A couple of minutes later, Reagan Singh, the right back for NorthEast, tried to catch Kattimani off-guard as he hit an ambitious long distance shot from the right flank which swirled dangerously before landing on the roof of the net.
A few minutes after that, Pradhan, who was easily NorthEast’s best player, played in a delightful ball into a dangerous area in the box, but no NorthEast player attacked it, allowing Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani to gather with ease.
Goa reply strongly
NorthEast would soon be punished for their profligacy. A 28th minute Pradhan cross was intercepted by FC Goa striker Reinaldo to launch a blistering countering-attack. He passed the ball to Joffre, who laid it off for Jonatan Lucca to calmly curl the ball into the top right corner.
There was complete silence in the stands but it was just the start for more suffering for the home team. CS Sabeeth controlled a long ball in the 30th minute and passed it to the influential Joffre, who, with an assist already to his name, cut in and shot at goal. The ball hit a defender and fell to Reinaldo, who acrobatically kicked it into the net. In a space of two minutes, a confident-looking NorthEast side had lost their lead and were trailing. That familiar sinking feeling for the Highlanders was back
Both teams had plenty of chances to score in the second half but squandered them away. NorthEast captain Cedric Hengbart’s back-header from a long cross was straight at Kattimani who had little difficulty in gathering the ball.
Joffre had another golden opportunity in the 67th minute to score, but faced with only the keeper, he tried to chip the ball over him. It did not come off and a grateful Bracigliano gathered the ball.
That should take nothing away from Joffre, who was, by far, the most influential player on the pitch. With two assists, the Spaniard had put his team in a winning position and he created a host of opportunities by finding spaces and providing pin-point accurate passes. It was no surprise then that he was the hero of the match.
Goa add a third
In the 70th minute, a counter attack from FC Goa saw Leo Moura drawing the defenders to him before expertly passing the ball to Mandar Rao Desai on the left, and the youngster who had just come on, made no mistake in beating Bracigliano from a one-on-one situation.
The last quarter saw both teams being wasteful with opportunities. NorthEast’s Nicholas Velez had the goal at his mercy at the far post in the 78th minute but shot over. Five minutes later, Desai served a delicious ball to Reinaldo, who tried to curl the ball in, but missed the target. Around the 83rd minute mark, Velez attempted another shot on goal, but Kattimani dived at full stretch to deny him.
At the final whistle, the home team looked distraught. It had been a poor show from them in front of their passionate fans.
Goa would be delighted to have their campaign back on track with three important points. However, they could have piled more misery on their opponents had they been more composed with their finishing. Stronger teams may well punish them for their inability to close down games. Otherwise, it was a professional display on their part. These are early days and coach Zico would want his team to go from strength to strength.
As for NorthEast, it was the same old story of showing a lot of promise, flashes of individual brilliance but succumbing to defensive lapses and poor finishing. If Cesar Farias and his team are hoping to reach the play-offs, then they clearly have to work on their defence and also start getting good results. The only bright side on their part was the dazzling display of Sanju Pradhan who kept fighting till the end.
With this result, Goa climbed to the second place in the league standings, behind Atletico de Kolkata on goal difference. NorthEast are rooted to the bottom.
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But the noisy 30,319 crowd at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati still had their hopes high, ahead of Thursday’s clash with FC Goa. Despite losing their opening two matches against a strong Kerala Blasters side and then an equally tough FC Pune City squad, the “Highlanders” (as NorthEast United are known) were not short of confidence, considering this was their first home game of the season.
Goa came into the clash in a better position but with the scars of the humiliation at home against Chennai still raw. A win would do them a world of good.
NorthEast make a promising start
The home team are known for quick build-up plays, darting runs from the flanks and sharp counter attacks. They certainly played to their strengths initially. After a few promising moves which ended up in nothing, NorthEast and their fans had reasons to cheer in the 12th minute.
A cross from the left flank sailed over Nicolas Velez, the intended target, but found its way to Sanju Pradhan on the right. The versatile winger sped past FC Goa left back Debabrata Roy with ease and lifted a cross which striker Francis Dadzie expertly headed into the goal across the goalkeeper Kattimani, giving a measure of relief to the home team.
While NorthEast coach Cesar Farias could afford a smile, FC Goa coach Zico was livid. His decision to leave out marquee player Lucio on the bench seemed to have backfired.
NorthEast stepped up a gear and should have extended their lead, but were wasteful. Pradhan latched onto an excellent through ball but passed it to Dadzie who could not connect. A couple of minutes later, Reagan Singh, the right back for NorthEast, tried to catch Kattimani off-guard as he hit an ambitious long distance shot from the right flank which swirled dangerously before landing on the roof of the net.
A few minutes after that, Pradhan, who was easily NorthEast’s best player, played in a delightful ball into a dangerous area in the box, but no NorthEast player attacked it, allowing Goa keeper Laxmikant Kattimani to gather with ease.
Goa reply strongly
NorthEast would soon be punished for their profligacy. A 28th minute Pradhan cross was intercepted by FC Goa striker Reinaldo to launch a blistering countering-attack. He passed the ball to Joffre, who laid it off for Jonatan Lucca to calmly curl the ball into the top right corner.
There was complete silence in the stands but it was just the start for more suffering for the home team. CS Sabeeth controlled a long ball in the 30th minute and passed it to the influential Joffre, who, with an assist already to his name, cut in and shot at goal. The ball hit a defender and fell to Reinaldo, who acrobatically kicked it into the net. In a space of two minutes, a confident-looking NorthEast side had lost their lead and were trailing. That familiar sinking feeling for the Highlanders was back
Both teams had plenty of chances to score in the second half but squandered them away. NorthEast captain Cedric Hengbart’s back-header from a long cross was straight at Kattimani who had little difficulty in gathering the ball.
Joffre had another golden opportunity in the 67th minute to score, but faced with only the keeper, he tried to chip the ball over him. It did not come off and a grateful Bracigliano gathered the ball.
That should take nothing away from Joffre, who was, by far, the most influential player on the pitch. With two assists, the Spaniard had put his team in a winning position and he created a host of opportunities by finding spaces and providing pin-point accurate passes. It was no surprise then that he was the hero of the match.
Goa add a third
In the 70th minute, a counter attack from FC Goa saw Leo Moura drawing the defenders to him before expertly passing the ball to Mandar Rao Desai on the left, and the youngster who had just come on, made no mistake in beating Bracigliano from a one-on-one situation.
The last quarter saw both teams being wasteful with opportunities. NorthEast’s Nicholas Velez had the goal at his mercy at the far post in the 78th minute but shot over. Five minutes later, Desai served a delicious ball to Reinaldo, who tried to curl the ball in, but missed the target. Around the 83rd minute mark, Velez attempted another shot on goal, but Kattimani dived at full stretch to deny him.
At the final whistle, the home team looked distraught. It had been a poor show from them in front of their passionate fans.
Goa would be delighted to have their campaign back on track with three important points. However, they could have piled more misery on their opponents had they been more composed with their finishing. Stronger teams may well punish them for their inability to close down games. Otherwise, it was a professional display on their part. These are early days and coach Zico would want his team to go from strength to strength.
As for NorthEast, it was the same old story of showing a lot of promise, flashes of individual brilliance but succumbing to defensive lapses and poor finishing. If Cesar Farias and his team are hoping to reach the play-offs, then they clearly have to work on their defence and also start getting good results. The only bright side on their part was the dazzling display of Sanju Pradhan who kept fighting till the end.
With this result, Goa climbed to the second place in the league standings, behind Atletico de Kolkata on goal difference. NorthEast are rooted to the bottom.