NorthEast United FC put on a disciplined display to beat Mumbai City FC 2-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena on Wednesday. The win is a big boost to the Highlanders’ bid to secure a top four spot and saw them leapfrog the Islanders to occupy the second position in the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) table.

Both teams currently have 27 points from 16 matches and are also tied in terms of goal difference and goals scored. However, the Highlanders pipped the Islanders to the second spot owing to a superior head-to-head record.

  • Rowllin Borges gave NorthEast an early lead on the fourth minute.
  • Bartholomew Ogbeche scored his 12th goal of the season to double the Highlanders’ advantage on the 33rd minute.
  • It was Mumbai’s third loss on a trot.

NorthEast started the match brightly and took the lead with just four minutes of the clock. Keegan Pereira bombed down the left-hand side before cutting the ball back for Rowllin Borges at the edge of the box. The midfielder complied by side-footing the ball into the net past a helpless Amrinder Singh.

The home team could have levelled things up just five minutes later. Rafael Bastos' finesse shot from 20-yards out had Pawan Kumar in the NorthEast goal well beaten, but the crossbar came in the way.

With the Islanders pushing high up the field in search of the equaliser, NorthEast looked to stay compact at the back and hit back with quick counter attacks. One such forward forays saw Federico Gallego release Reagan Singh down the right flank. The 27-year old got to the byline and fizzed in a dangerous low cross inside the Mumbai box. Panagiotis Triadis sold a cheeky dummy at the near post and let the ball roll for Bartholomew Ogbeche. The NorthEast no. 10 got the adequate touch to redirect the ball and scored his 12th goal of the season. The strike took Ogbeche past FC Goa's Ferran Corominas in the Golden Boot standings.

Seconds later, Triadis could have added to Mumbai's misery. The fleet-footed winger cut inside the box from the left and let one rip. The speed on the shot had Amrinder beat but the post came to the home team's rescue.

That would turn out to be the last notable action of the first 45 minutes as the referee signalled for half-time with NorthEast 2-0 up.

With the onus on them to find the next goal, Mumbai were the more adventurous side after the restart. The Highlanders, however, remained tactically astute and worked hard to deny the Islanders any real space in the final third. The home team managed to create a few half chances but Pawan Kumar was relatively comfortable in the NorthEast goal.

Substitute Redeem Tlang could have sealed the match beyond any doubt on the 90th minute. The speedy winger found himself through on goal but his shot went inches wide of the far post. The match ended with the score 2-0 in the Highlanders’ favour.

HERO OF THE MATCH – Rowllin Borges

NorthEast midfielder Rowllin Borges scored the all-important first goal of the match and put in a brilliant shift on the night, helping out both in defence and the attack whenever required. His selfless performance sees him bag the Hero of the Match award. 

CLUB AWARDS 

Club Award – NorthEast United FC 

Swift Limitless Player of the Match – Bartholomew Ogbeche

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Reagan Singh 

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Raynier Fernandes 

Hero of the Match – Rowllin Borges

WHAT’S NEXT?

NorthEast will host FC Pune City on February 20, while Mumbai will be on the road to play against ATK on February 22.

Watch the match highlights here

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Related tags:

Mumbai City FCNorthEast United FC Match Report2018-2019