North East United 2 - 0 Goa - INDIA

NorthEast United picked up three more points as they beat FC Goa 2-0 in the ISL 2016 contest on Tuesday.

NorthEast United make it two in two as they beat FC Goa 2-0 in the Indian Super League 2016 contest in Guwahati on Tuesday. Emiliano Alfaro scored both the goals for the hosts as they completely outplayed a depleted Goa unit. Goa were undone by some poor effort by their goalie who made some costly errors. NorthEast United had opened their account with a 1-0 win against Kerala Blasters on the opening day of the third edition of the competition. Meanwhile, relive how the 90 minutes, completely dominated by NorthEast United, unfolded.

Indian Super League 2016: NorthEast United FC 2-0 FC Goa: Emiliano Alfaro propels Highlanders to top of the table

Emiliano Alfaro's brace was enough on the day as NorthEast United brushed aside FC Goa to make it two wins in two...

Emiliano Alfaro was the star on show at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati as the Uruguayan's brace (20', 62') set NorthEast United on course for a 2-0 home win over FC Goa, making it two wins in two for the Highlanders, sending them to the top of the Indian Super League (ISL) standings.

NorthEast United’s head coach Nelo Vingada made a solitary change to his eleven from the opening day victory against Kerala Blasters. Defensive midfielder Wellington Priori was introduced as a replacement for Nicolas Velez, as the Highlanders chose to go in with only one attacking option in Alfaro.

Halicharan Narzary kept his place but was shifted to the left flank as Katsumi Yusa was pushed into the right channel, a position he was familiar to playing in at Mohun Bagan. Marquee Didier Zokora, who was declared unfit for the full ninety, was benched yet again.

FC Goa missed out on the services of five players in Robin Singh, Denzil Franco, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Gregory Arnolin and Luciano Sobrosa. The Gaurs lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Raju Gaikwad, Rafael Dumas, Fulganco Cardozo and marquee Lucio as part of the defensive line. Sanjay Balmuchu made a surprise start in midfield alongside Trindade Goncalves, Richarlyson Barbosa and Mandar Rao Dessai. Jofre Mateu was deployed as the number ten with Rafael Coelho leading the line.

Ten Indian players, eight Brazilians and one each from Uruguay, Japan, Ivory Coast and Spain walked onto the pitch featuring in the game.

Contrary to the dull opener on the weekend at the same venue, this match got off to an exciting start with some end-to-end action. Katsumi Yusa won a free-kick early on but the home side chose to pass the ball backwards and build possession. 

The home side got their first sniff of goal in the 12th minute of the game when Romaric crossed it for Alfaro who failed to connect it on the first attempt. Katsumi Yusa latched onto the loose ball but his shot was well saved by Kattimani.

NorthEast United broke the deadlock in bizarre fashion in the 20th minute. Lucio passed the ball to Laxmikant Kattimani and the Goan goalkeeper felt the wrath early from a charging Emiliano Alfaro. The Uruguayan pressured Kattimani into a half-baked clearance only for the ball to rebound off Alfaro’s belly into the net.

Didier Zokora was introduced for the second time in the league off the bench as Mailson Alves went off after picking an injury. 

The Gaurs had their first big chance of the game late into the first-half when Mandar Rao Dessai befooled Reagan Singh and dribbled in from the left to square it to Jofre who shot it right into the fists of Paul. Not much was made of the rebound as Cardozo shot it wide.

At half-time, the home side were looking at their first ever win over the Zico coached unit.

Sanjay Balmuchu was taken off to introduce Romeo Fernandes as FC Goa opted for a 4-2-3-1 post the breather. Romeo and Mandar were deployed as the two wide attackers with Jofre operating as the number ten.

Ten minutes into the half, Subrata Paul pulled off a blinder from a long range shot from Trindade Goncalves. Only three minutes later, Paul was into the act again. Mandar’s first time shot from inside the box was frantically saved and Trindade followed that up with an effort of his own from the left. Paul dived at full stretch and managed to keep it out but the loose ball was helplessly put out of play by a wayward Romeo shot.

The home side sent the crowd into a frenzy two minutes past the hour mark. Halicharan Narzary redeemed himself after a poor performance in the first game with a serendipitous sideways heel-flick which cut open the opposition back-line. Alfaro moved forward to deposit the ball into the net between the legs of Kattimani to put the Highlanders two to the good.

With ten minutes to go, Kattimani was again on the firing line as Nicolas Velez pranced into the penalty box. He chose to pass it to an unmarked Alfaro whose shot was blocked by Raju.

With five minutes of added time, the tempo fuddled down a bit as NorthEast United collected their first ever victory against the mighty FC Goa since the inception of the ISL. They also condemned Goa to just their fifth away loss stretching across the three seasons of the ISL.

‘Professor’ Nelo Vingada helped his side to the top of the table as they collected six points from two games within just the first four days of the third edition of the ISL.