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Out of form NorthEast United triumphed over Chennaiyin FC 3-1 in Friday's ISL encounter. The home side inflicted a surprisingly heavy defeat on Chennai who are just a point off the top of the points table.
Seiminlen Doungel's excellent hat-trick takes the Highlanders to 10 points, just two behind ATK who have a game in hand. Here are the major talking points from tonight's clash.
#1 Jerry Lalrinzuala continues to improve at astounding rate
Chennaiyin FC have a 19-year-old in their ranks who has played every single game so far this season. Tonight, young Jerry Lalrinzuala once again showed why he is probably the most promising Indian player around.
The left back put in a thoroughly professional performance against NEUFC. Whenever presented with space to move forward, he marauded ahead with intent and always caused problems down the left wing.
For a player so young, Jerry displayed unbelievable maturity when defending. Never too excited, he was calm and closed down spaces, snapping at the Highlanders' attackers, all night long. His positioning was on point and he was Chennai's best player on the pitch.
#2 Both sides play pinball in the first half
Chennaiyin and NEUFC started the game in a haphazard manner, to say the least. Neither side could string more than three passes without it being intercepted by the opposition. The match looked more like a game of Pinball for the first twenty-five minutes.
There was no rhythm whatsoever and players from both sides were hurried off the ball. One cannot fault the energy of both teams, which was omnipresent but the fact of the matter is, the sense of urgency displayed led to a number of interceptions and misplaced passes and it did not make for great viewing.
Chennai's attempt to play slick football was thwarted while the Highlanders' pursuit for a quick goal was met with equal resistance. Neither team caved in.
#3 Newlywed Seiminlen Doungel scores hat-trick
This wasn't on the cards. The second best team in the ISL were up against the second worst team on Friday. Chennaiyin were expected to dominate NorthEast from the get-go. However, both sides found themselves on equal footing.
What seemed like a dull game, came to life when Seiminlen Doungel scored an opportunistic goal, late in the first half, to give the Highlanders an unexpected lead. Cezario's zipping shot was parried away by Chennai's keeper but Doungel pounced on the loose ball and buried it into an open net. He then topped it off with two more superb finishes to score a sublime hat-trick, the first by an Indian this season.
Sunil Chhetri isn't the only Indian footballer who got married recently. 24-year-old, Seiminlen Doungel got married on 12th January and returned tonight to produce a truly memorable performance after his wedding. A great return gift to all his well-wishers.
#4 Can Avram Grant build Rome in two months?
Against a solid Chennaiyin outfit, NorthEast United put in their best performance of the season so far and they had to wait for more than 45 days for it. The home side looked far more disciplined and lethal when compared to their previous matches.
It was a sight to behold when Seiminlen Doungel scored his second of the night with a deft finish, giving NorthEast a 2-0 lead, less than a minute into the second half. It definitely took the visitors by surprise who looked stunned with what had just transpired.
The odds are still heavily stacked against NEUFC. Their chances of qualifying for the final four is slim but it's mathematically very much possible. A string of good results could possibly magically overturn what was, until today, an extremely poor season. Rome wasn't built in a day but if there is one man who can build it in two months, it's Avram Grant. He has the experience and the resume to do so.
#5 Are the top sides getting complacent?
Just last week, Bengaluru went down to bottom-placed, Delhi Dynamos. Today, Chennaiyin who are just a point off the top were rattled by a thoroughly sublime performance from NorthEast United.
We're only halfway into the season. Any side that get's complacent will pay the price, irrespective of their position on the points table. In a truncated league format, momentum breeds confidence and every single team in the bottom half of the table will be hungry to prove a point from now on.
Tonight, Chennaiyin were unlike their usual selves. They were slow off the blocks, lacked clarity when venturing forward and looked sluggish at the back. The south Indian outfit will hope this is just a blip in what as overall been a solid season for them, so far.
