Reliving the most exciting ISL match of the week – NorthEast United 2-0 Chennaiyin FC
The festivity that Indian Super League started as has now turned into an intense competition. It’s an open league; any team can beat any other at any given point of time. In fact, NorthEast United coach Cesar Farias after his win against Atletico Kolkata compared ISL with Mexican League, which he believes is the most even league in the world, in terms of competition.
He said, “I come from the Mexican league, which is probably the most even league of the world because the investment which the teams make is almost equal; from the top team to the last team. It’s the same case here. And just like here, teams are very even.”
Last week saw Cesar Farias’ team winning their first league game of ISL 2015. After losing their first two away games, things turned really difficult for NorthEast when FC Goa annihilated The Highlanders in their first home game.
Injury and tactical troubles further plagued Farias’ intentions and the team desperately needed a win to start their challenge for the league. The task was daunting and the opposition ferocious. In Match 16 of the ISL, NorthEast were up against Chennaiyin FC. A must win game for Farias, NorthEast was up against a team which had scored the most number of goals in the league.
The match saw one red card and 10 yellow cards, two penalty kicks, and many ill-tempered situations on the ground. Undoubtedly the most exciting match of the week, NorthEast United tasted their first victory of the season, against a very difficult opposition.
It all started in the 38th minute when Hengbart was fouled by Potenza inside the box. The penalty that followed was taken by Kamara, but was saved brilliantly by Edel Bete. In the series of events that followed immediately Harmanjot Khabra was given a straight red card by the referee for violent conduct.
It is believed that the Punjab born midfielder uttered ill words towards the referee. He was later suspended for four matches by the disciplinary committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for breach of the governing body's disciplinary code (Article 50) of misconduct towards match officials. He has been handed a four-match suspension and a fine of Rs. 3 Lakhs.
This was followed by NorthEast head coach Cesar Farias and his Chennaiyin counterpart Marco Materazzi exchanging heated words from their respective touchlines. This exchange brought players and officials from both sides face-to-face and on the verge of exchanging blows which resulted in the interruption of the match for about five minutes.
The match approached the halftime mark goalless with NorthEast failing to convert a golden opportunity in the form of a penalty.
In the second half, both teams made tactical changes in the form of substitutions in an attempt to gain control over the game. Chennaiyin introduced Elano and Mendoza while NorthEast fielded striker Velez and marquee player Sabrosa.
Things however remained the same and it looked like the match was headed for a draw. But in the 88th minute, Jayesh Rane fouled Simao inside the box, which gave NEUFC their second penalty of the game.
This time around, Simao made no mistakes and converted the penalty for NEUFC to give them the lead. In added time, they made it a decisive 2-0 margin, courtesy a lightning counter attack by Sanju Pradhan, which was finished off by Velez. NorthEast United won the match 2-0 to register their first victory in ISL Season 2.
The win for the Highlanders opened up season 2 of the Indian Super League and gave them a fighting chance to show what they could do in the coming matches. Keeping a clean sheet against the most prolific team in the ISL showed that they could fight it out when the going got tough.
It also sent out an important message to the rest of the teams in the league, who would now be vary of the team from Guwahati, knowing very well that they are capable of surprising anyone on their day.
The team have realised that they possess great pace and thrust on the counter, and have used it to their advantage in the recent encounters. Although it was a 2-0 win for the Highlanders, the game against Chennaiyin definitely was the most exciting of the week.