ISL 2018-19, NorthEast United FC 2-1 Kerala Blasters FC: 5 Hits and Flops
NorthEast United FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC 2-1 at home to jump to the third position in the Indian Super League table and solidified their position in the top four.
The home side scored two stoppage goals to complete a comeback win against Kerala Blasters FC after a goal from Matej Poplatnik.
The first half was full of action and the spectators saw everything that can happen on the football field except the ball hitting the back of the net.
The second half was much more joy for the paying spectators who saw a headed goal, a penalty and a last-minute screamer to win the game.
The Blasters were set for their first win since the opening day of the season after Poplatnik's header in the 72nd minute but Sandesh Jhingan, the 'Hero of the match' conceded a needless penalty which led to an inevitable Ogbeche goal.
Juan Mascia scored a stunner in the fifth minute of stoppage time to get his side the important three points.
Let's now have a look at the 5 hits and flops from the match.
#5 Hit: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem
Dheeraj Singh started the first two matches of the league for Kerala Blasters and conceded only one goal but was dropped in favour of the experienced Naveen Kumar.
Kumar conceded nine goals in the subsequent five matches, failing to keep a single clean sheet resulting in the 18-year old getting a start against NorthEast United FC.
The teenager made a good start to the match as he saved a powerful header from Ogbeche and also saved a deflected shot which could have proved tricky.
Dheeraj also made good clearances from corners coming out to punch the ball away on several occasions.
In the end, he was helpless in the Ogbeche penalty and stood no chance to save Mascia's winner either.