Welcome to Sportstar’s live highlights of the Indian Super League fixture between NorthEast United and East Bengal.
East Bengal put three goals past NorthEast United FC to secure its first win of the season. This is also its firs win over the Highlanders. Cleiton Silva opened the scoring early in the first half after capitalising on a defensive error. Charalambos Kyriakou doubled the lead with a right footed finish from outside the box. Jordan O’Doherty sealed the game through a rapid counterattack. NEUFC managed to grab a consolation goal when Matt Derbyshire headed in a corner in the extra time.
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NEUFC gets a goal. IT IS DERBYSHIRE!!! A corner swung in from left and it is headed in by the forward for his first ISL goal. The fans are ecstatic, despite this being just a consolation goal. A few attempts fly past EB goalpost, but NEUFC can’t force a grandstand finish.
NEUFC is deflated. The body language and intent with ball points towards the mood of players. Constantine makes a few changes. Suhair, who has been crucial to the performance, is also taken. EB fans are roaring in the stands.
THIRD GOAL!! Doherty delivers the killer blow. NEUFC is buried and EB will have its first win of the season.
Derbyshire with a chance to score, but Lalchungnunga is steady as a rock. He has been superb tonight at the heart of EB defense.
Cleiton Silva is taken off and Suhair seems to have taken up the central position. Constantine has been the experience to see it out and his tactics is in line with grinding out a result right now.
NEUFC is mounting on the pressure as it looks to get back into the game. The fans are getting involved with crosses flying across the face of the goal.
Finally, Kamaljit is called into action. Jithin MS swings in a delicious cross from left and the EB goalkeeper pulls of a stunning save from Gazpa. Positive signs for NEUFC.
NEUFC brings in two more changes as Marco Balbul tries to shake things off. But East Bengal continues to remain unmoved. Kamaljit yet to be tested in the second half.
Suhair sends a scything cross into the six-yard box, which is nicked in by Semboi. But it is deemed offside. Classy finish from the forward there.
East Bengal is cruising. NEUFC needs to tighten up if it is to come back into this game. But as things stand, that seems unlikely.
Cleiton Silva goes for a goal with an inventive attempt. First-time side-footed volley, but it flies wide of the right upright. But Kyriacou doesn’t miss. Suhair lays it on a plate for Kyriacou to smash it in from outside the box. 2-0 for East Bengal.
East Bengal has a chance to pull off its first-ever win over NorthEast United FC. Suhair with an early chance to punish his former employers, but Bhattacharya saves it easily.
EB sitting deep and soaking in all the pressure from NEUFC. Finally NEUFC breaks free. Emil Benny’s shot rebounds off Kamaljit and Derbyshire somehow manages to hit the host from point blank range. HUGE CHANCE!!!! A few chances from setpieces and EB somehow survives the onslaught. EB leads NEUFC 1-0 at half time.
NEUFC has shown an improvement in intensity, but that hasn’t translated into actual chances yet. The fans aren’t hesitant to show their disapproval.
EB sets off on a counter attack, but Suhair’s cross from the right was disappointing. NEUFC has had a larger share of possession, but has failed to create meaningful chances out of it.
An early set of subs for NEUFC. Seems to be a tactical decision to shore up the defense. Despite the early setback, the energy of the crowd hasn’t wavered.
Suhair drives in with intensity and he finds Cleiton Silva and he thrashes one to first post. Slightly off target, but it shows the level of confidence he is operating in.
Constantine’s influence is evident as the EB players have drawn back in to hold on it its position. Lesser players are being pushed forward. NEUFC yet to take advantage of this situation.
NEUFC continues its attacks down the left. But the Jithin’s cross was wayward, thanks to an uneven pitch. Cleiton with a shot again. This time from outside the box, but is deflected out for a corner.
You could say that that goal came against the flow of the game. But Stephen Constantine wouldn’t care a bit. The balance of the game has shifted as EB begins to be more assertive.
First real chance of the day and it is EB with it. NEUFC tries to play out from the back and Cleiton Silva capitalises on a mistake and it is the first GOAALL!!!! East Bengal leads 1-0.
Another foray down the left for NEUFC. But EB defense stays strong. But EB can’t get out of its own half for a long time. Good spell for NEUFC.
East Bengal yet to get its act together. Suhair loses possession and NEUFC built out from the back.. NEUFC looking the more settled side here.
NEUFC begins on the front foot. The crowd seems to be getting into it. Jithin MS down the left is the first to test the EB defense. The Highlanders pressing hard and strong to put the Kolkata side under pressure.
Playing XIs
NorthEast United - Bhattacharya (GK), Gurjinder, Bora, Jakobsen, Irshad, Jon, Emanuel, Romain, Jithin, Chhara, Derbyshire
East Bengal - Kamaljit (GK), Sarthak, Gonzalez, Lalchungnunga, Jerry, Jordan, Kyriacou, Suhair, Mahesh, Haokip, Cleiton
STAT
PREVIEW
NorthEast United will take on East Bengal in the Indian Super League on Thursday at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati.
Both sides will be looking to clock their first points of the season after having begun their ISL campaigns with back-to-back defeats.
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