Road to ISL 2018-19 Playoffs - Eelco Schattorie makes history - 5 Things NorthEast United FC did right to make the Playoffs

#2 Bartholomew Ogbeche’s goals

Ogbeche has scored 55% of the NorthEast United FC’s goals this season (Image Courtesy: ISL)

This is quite an obvious one.

Signing a 34-year-old striker hardly ever sparks interest in fans and understandably so.

Not a lot was expected of Bartholomew Ogbeche when he arrived from Willem II although he had just come off a 10-goal Eredivisie season.

After scoring a hat-trick against Chennaiyin FC and crucial goals against fellow top-four clubs, including Mumbai City FC and FC Goa, though, he has solidified himself as a regular goal source.

To put things into perspective, he has scored 55% of the NorthEast United FC’s goals this season, and his goals have won them 10 points, without which they’d have finished seventh, on 19 points.

In addition, they have had just four goal-scorers this season - while six sides have at least 10 different scorers - so without his goals, NorthEast United FC, perhaps, would have retained their underachiever's tag.

He hasn’t scored against Bengaluru FC over two legs in the league stages and will look to buck the trend when they meet in the semi-finals on Thursday.