NorthEast United FC finally returned to winning ways with a thrilling 3-2 victory over 10-man Inter Kashi at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. The win ended a one-and-a-half-month winless run that had seen the Highlanders suffer four home defeats and manage only a solitary away draw from their previous five matches.
The Indian Super League (ISL) side had last tasted victory on March 15, beating Jamshedpur FC at home. Since then, their campaign had steadily unravelled, making this result a welcome relief for the team and its supporters.
Match Details
Originally scheduled as Inter Kashi's home fixture, the match was shifted to Guwahati due to unavoidable circumstances. This change ultimately proved advantageous for Juan Pedro Benali's men.
Jithin MS opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, giving NorthEast United a 1-0 lead at the break. The hosts gained a decisive advantage in the 62nd minute when Wayne Vaz was sent off for a dangerous foul inside the box, conceding a penalty in the process.
Second Half Action
Andy Rodriguez made no mistake from the spot a minute later, doubling the lead. However, despite being reduced to 10 men for more than half an hour, Inter Kashi mounted an impressive fightback. Goals from Sergio Llamas in the 71st minute and Mohammed Asif Khan in the 82nd minute brought Antonio López Habas' side level, leaving the home crowd visibly tense heading into the final moments.
With the clock ticking down, home favourite Parthiv Gogoi rose to the occasion, scoring the winner in the 90th minute to secure all three points for the Highlanders after a long wait.
Standings Impact
The result marked NorthEast United's second win of the season, lifting them one place to 11th in the standings with 10 points from 11 matches. Inter Kashi remain eighth, with 11 points from 10 games.
This victory provides a much-needed boost for NorthEast United as they look to climb the table and revive their campaign. The team will hope to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.
