Internet Desk: Two horrible goalkeeping mistakes from FC Goa custodian Laxmikant Kattimani and a brilliant brace from Uruguayan forward Alfaro spoiled the party for Zico and his men as North East United sealed their second successive victory in the Hero Indian Super League season 3. The Highlanders defeated mighty FC Goa by 2-0 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati today. The win re-established their place on the top of the league table.
The NorthEast coach put star forward Nico Velez on the bench to start with a 5-4-1 formation. The strategy was to play solid and to create brisk counter attacking moves. Zico too played with a similar formation by putting star Brazilian Reinaldo on the bench,but the attack index was certainly in favour of the Goa franchise in the first half.
In the 20th minute, a howler by Laxmikanth Kattimani gifted NorthEast United FC a very lucky goal! Emiliano Alfaro got the fruit for keeping on pressing. The striker showed his instincts by pressing the keeper for the ball, who buckled under pressure as he went to pass the ball to his teammate. However, the striker blocked the pass and the ball deflected off him into the back of the net.
In the 38th minute, Mandar Rao Dessai made a mesmerizing run on the left flank and capped it off with a superb cut back to Joffre. The midfielder blasted a first time shot towards goal but Subrata Paul makde a brilliant save to deny a certain goal. From the rebound, Fulganco Cardozo took aim from outside the box but came inches close from scoring.
The Highlanders left the pitch for the half time with a slender lead of 1-0. The second half started in a different mode as Zico’s men became desperate for the equalizer. In the 54th minute, Trindade Goncalves tried his luck from quite some distance and forced a superb save from Subrata Paul. That was really struck with some venom! In the 58th minute Mandar Rao Dessai came awfully close to find the back of the net before Trindade Goncalves tested Subrata with a ferocious strike from distance. Two really close chances of scoring but FC Goa could not find the back of the net.
In the 62nd minute, Emiliano Alfaro scored yet another goal to double his side’s lead! It was a brilliant finish but the pass that led to the goal was even better. Holicharan Narzary played a wonderful flick to set the striker up. Emiliano did the rest by blasting the ball through the keeper’s legs and finding the back of the net. The goalkeeping standard of the Goan goalkeeper was once again under the scanner.
The “save of the day” came in the 78th minute when not the keeper but it was Raju Gaikwad who made a superb save! Nicolas Velez unselfishly played the ball to Emiliano Alfaro who had an empty net to aim at. However, as the striker took his shot Gaikwad came from behind and made a diving block to deny him the hat-trick.
NorthEast coach Nelo Vingada would be delighted with the start from his team in the season as the current form of goalkeeper Subrata Paul has been a bonus for his team who made some match winning saves today as well. On the other hand, Zico needs to find his goal scoring options as the Gaurs failed to capitalize some golden opportunities.
Hero of the Match: Emiliano Alfaro (NorthEast United)