Victor Mendy - record goalscorer from Azerbaijan Premier League nets first goal in ISL, keeps NE United afloat

Mendy, after scoring the opener against FC Goa (Image courtesy ISL)

The Highlanders from the North East had a horrid start to their campaign in the Hero Indian Super League this year. Winless in their first three fixtures, they were deemed outsiders for a spot in the play-off’s and seemed destined to finish in the lower half.

Coach Cesar Farias is known to throw up surprises though; the Venezuelan who had taken his native to their best finish at Copa America four years ago was told by a Mumbai City FC player that his team was the “worst in the league”. Coincidentally that was the last time the Highlanders languished at the bottom of the points table. Spirited performances over the last few weeks have ensured that they now lie fourth and with two matches to go, have a realistic chance of making the play-off’s.

Needless to say, things have clicked for Farias, on and off the field. Earlier this month, he lost Boubacar Sanogo to injury. Presumably a jolt, many assumed that could plummet the team’s performances. That however hasn't happened. Victor Mendy from Senegal (France) was soon drafted in and the all time leading goalscorer for Gabala FC in the Azerbaijan Premier League gelled in with the squad immediately.

In fact last night against FC Goa, it was Mendy who thrust his team in to the lead with a header off Simao Sabrosa’s corner. Talking to the ISL Media Team after the game, he expressed his pleasure about netting his first goal for the franchisee, “I’m happy because we worked very hard tonight. It felt beautiful to get a goal against FC Goa. So now we need to make a stronger attempt to win the next game.”

Asked if he felt the result was fair and its importance in the longer run, he said, “We’re happy to win a point from tonight’s game. It’s better than going back empty-handed. Now we have two games at home. So we just need to focus on them.”

Importantly for the team though, they cant afford any slip-ups in the final two fixtures in Guwahati; with all the franchisees still in with a chance to qualify, Mendy acknowledged that he and his teammates know the importance of maintaining their spirited run, “We are a compact team and we play very well when we play like this. So we need to keep doing well. We need to keep the momentum going and keep the team strong.”