Kolkata, 29 November 2024: NorthEast United FC fought valiantly but fell to a 1-0 defeat against East Bengal FC at the VYBK (Salt Lake Stadium) during their Indian Super League (ISL 2024-25) clash here on Friday.
Dimitrios Diamantakos’ 23rd-minute header at the back post was enough for the hosts to secure three points. The result leaves the Highlanders third in the table with 15 points from 10 games.
“We were nervous, we wanted the game to finish quickly. We need to be calmer. We have to focus again. That’s what we will work on in training – being calm under pressure,” Juan Pedro Benali, head coach of NorthEast United FC summed up the game, talking after the post-match.
The Highlanders, who have scored the most league goals (21) this season, were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet for the first time. Asheer Akhtar’s header from Nestor Albiach’s corner in the 10th minute was parried away by Prabhsukhan Singh Gill as NorthEast United FC searched for their trademark early opener.
Soon after, Jithin MS was brought down in the box by Lalchungnunga, but the referee waved the play on. At the 28-minute mark, Mohammed Ali Bemammer came close to finding the equaliser but his header was wide of the mark. Ten minutes later,
Highlanders came closest to levelling the score when Alaaeddine Ajaraie rattled the crossbar from Samte’s inch-perfect cross as the visitors went into the break trailing by a goal.
The gaffer shuffled the pack at the break and brought on Macarton Louis Nickson and Guillermo Fernandez. The visitors upped the tempo in search of a goal in the second half, but the luck eluded them.
NorthEast United FC were reduced to 10 men after Ali Bemammer was given his marching orders in the 72nd minute for a second bookable offence making the task tougher. That did not deter the Highlanders from going forward as they looked for an equaliser which unfortunately never arrived.
For NorthEast, the positive from the match was Fredy Chawngthansanga, a youngster who had won the player of the tournament in the 40th All India Governors Gold Cup, was handed his ISL debut by the gaffer, coming on for Jithin in the 77th minute.
NorthEast United FC will next face another Kolkata side – Mohun Bagan SG – at Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on December 8 in a mouthwatering clash with an eye on a quick turnaround.
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