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NorthEast United registered only their second win of the ongoing ISL season. The home side triumphed 2-1 over FC Goa in Saturday's exciting encounter. Avram Grant was a relieved man at the end of 90 minutes. Here are the major talking points from tonight's game.
#1 NorthEast score for the first time at home
Saturday's ISL encounter was a match up between two sides on the opposite spectrum. Prior to this day, the home side had scored just two in seven outings. The visitors, Goa on the other hand are the league's highest scorers with nineteen.
On paper, things could not have been more contrasting. But unlike previous games, NorthEast displayed discipline and looked far more structured when they were building their attack.
Their professionalism meant, they finally scored their first goal on home turf. Main man, Marcinho controlled the ball ever so delicately inside the box before he turned and splendidly buried his shot from inside the box. That goal had relief more than joy written all over it.
#2 FC Goa punish home side for complacency
Just when it looked like things were getting better for NorthEast United, the visitors levelled proceedings against the run of play. Manuel Arana made the most of the mix up inside the box and did extremely well to slice his shot into the back of the net from an acute angle.
The home side can only blame themselves. That goal came just seven minutes after NEUFC's opener. The complacency was visible. Grant's men were ball watching as centre-back, Jose Goncalves fluffed his clearance which fell kindly to Arana who punished the on looking defenders.
If you were wondering why the Highlanders find it hard to keep a clean sheet, that goal explained it all. A static back line resulted in them conceding a needless goal.
#3 Nearly empty Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati
It wasn't a pretty sight. Known to have some of the most passionate football fans in the country, the Indira Gandhi stadium looked deserted on Saturday. The cameraman had a tough time focusing on the fans, because there were hardly any.
One doesn't usually associate NorthEast and empty stadiums. NEUFC and Goa played in an arena which can comfortably host 25,000 spectators. But everywhere one looked deserted seats were in abundance.
A section of fans tried their best to make themselves heard and motivate their players. But the harsh truth was, it was eerily silent. The clubs performance hasn't been great in recent weeks and the poor turnout didn't do much to help.
#4 Winger Mandar Rao Dessai deployed as left back
FC Goa coach, Sergio Lobera pulled off a Guardiola when he decided to deploy speedy winger, Mandar Rao Dessai as a left back for tonight's game. At the start of the season, Lobera proclaimed his side will always play attacking football. He surely wasn't kidding.
We can't remember the last time Mandar played as a full back. Defensively, he looked suspect all night long. In fact, he was primarily responsible for the Highlanders second goal.
When Seiminlen Doungel was expertly put through by Marcinho, he had acres of empty space ahead of him down the right and Mandar who should have been marking him was nowhere in sight. The makeshift left back attempted to desperately track back and make amends for his poor positioning. But by then, Doungel had already chipped the ball over Laxmikant Kattimani to give his side a crucial lead.
#5 Highlanders hold on for dear life in second half
Once NEUFC took the lead in the 52nd minute, Goa's dominance on the match grew with each passing minute. At any point after their second goal, NorthEast had at least six men operating as make shift centre backs.
It was a sight to behold as Goa kept pushing ahead but were annoyed and outnumbered every time they got close to the opposition's goal. The post, goalkeeper, TP Rehenesh and a hive of defenders all came to the rescue of the Highlanders who were literally holding on for dear life.
The home side did their best to waste time. Their players went down at the slightest of touches and ate up crucial seconds much to the annoyance of the Gaurs. Twice NEUFC cleared the ball off their line in the final minutes of the game and lived another day to tell their tale.
