NorthEast United FC pulled off a major upset in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 when they beat Chennaiyin FC 3 – 1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Friday. Seiminlen Doungel scored the first ever hat-trick by a NorthEast player, before Anirudh Thapa grabbed a late consolation for the visitors. This also happened to be the first hat-trick ever scored against the 2015 Hero ISL champions.

Both teams started the game cautiously as attacks in the final third were few and far between, and the match was mainly played out in midfield. The first chance of reckoning fell to the visitors when in the 23rd minute, Mailson Alves’ lofted ball found Inigo Calderon on the right flank, and the Spaniard decided to take a shot from a tight angle which went wide of the near post.

Three minutes from the break, however, NorthEast took the lead from their first real attack of the game. Danilo Lopes’ shot from inside the box proved too hot to handle for Chennaiyin custodian Karanjit Singh as he spilled the ball right into the path of Doungel, who made no mistake in slotting it home. It was the last bit of action from an otherwise uneventful half, as the Highlanders went into the half-time interval with a one-goal advantage.

The home team then doubled their lead just a few seconds after the restart, as the same combination worked once more. Lopes split the defence with a delightful ball to put Doungel through on goal, and the latter deftly placed the ball past an outrushing Karanjit to make it 2-0.

The 54th minute then saw Jerry Lalrinzuala whip in a cross from the left flank, and Jeje Lalpekhlua met it with a glancing header. However, Jeje’s header didn’t have enough power on it as NorthEast’s goalkeeper TP Rehenesh held on to it with ease.

Eight minutes after the hour mark, and Doungel completed his hat-trick. Halicharan Narzary’s cross from the left flank found the 24-year-old for him to deftly scoop the ball into the net with a first-time shot that made him the first Indian to score a hat-trick this season.

Chennaiyin pulled one back 11 minutes from full-time. Calderon’s shot bounced off Reagan Singh, and Thapa was at hand to connect with a sweet volley that found the back of the net as Rehenesh stayed rooted to his spot. It proved to be the last chance of the match though as the Highlanders picked up their third victory of the campaign courtesy of a 3 – 1 win.

Match Awards:

Club Award: NorthEast United FC
Swift Moment of the Match: Seiminlen Doungel
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Halicharan Narzary
Amul Fittest Player: Danilo Lopes
Emerging Player: Anirudh Thapa
Hero of the Match: Seiminlen Doungel

Watch the match highlights here: