NorthEast United registered their first win of the season after Khassa Camara scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to help his team beat FC Goa 2-1 in a thrilling Hero Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Pandit Jawaharlal nehru stadium in Margao, Goa on Saturday.

Rochhaerzela (10’) gave the Highlanders the lead before Alexander Jesuraj (13’) equalised for the Gaurs to make it 1-1 after just 13 minutes and despite several chances for either sides, it needed a stunner from Camara in second-half stoppage time to win the contest.

FC Goa were the better team in the first half but NorthEast united put on a much improved show in the second half.

FC Goa needed just four minutes to work Subhasish Roy Choudhary in the NorthEast United goal as Ortiz and Alberto Noguera combined to allow the former to have a shot at goal which was saved at the neat post.

However, at the other end, there was no denying Rochharzela who slotted past Dheeraj Moirangthem in the FC Goa goal after latching onto a clever through ball from Mathias Coureur.

The Highlanders’ lead though didn’t last long as FC Goa equalised just three minutes later as Jesuraj poked home a Noguera shot that was heading goalwards. Jesuraj’s touch just helped it past the goalkeeper who was totally wrong-footed.

FC Goa then had a few attempts from outside the goal as Glan Martins twice tried his luck from range bit couldn’t find the back of the net.

Ortiz however came very close in the 34th minute when he back flicked a Noguera cross goalwards but Choudhary denied him with a shar save.

Goa conjured up another chance almost immediately and Ortiz was at the heart of it again. His cross was partially cleared and found its way to Martins whose shot was deflected goalwards by Ivan Gonzalez but Choudhary was upto the task and pushed it away. The loose ball once again fell to Martins who saw his effort blocked.

FC Goa then had the ball in the back of the net through Dylan Fox but the former NorthEast United defender saw his effort ruled out by the linesman’s flag.

There was controversy right at the end of the first half when Choudhary appeared to have handled a back pass but the referee missed it and the Highlanders got off the hook.

A minute later it was Dheeraj who got lucky when came off his line to collect a deep free-kick but missed it altogether only for Lalkhawpuimawia to fire the header wide.

The teams somehow went into the interval locked at 1-1 despite clear chances for either side.

The Highlanders claimed the first opening of the second half as Fox misplaced a pass to allow NorthEast United to counter-attack. Khassa Camara eventually takes the shot that flies just over the crossbar.

Khalid Jamil’s men were unlucky not to take the lead in the 60th minute when Coureur who latched onto a long ball from Suhair Vadakkepeedika beat a couple of FC Goa defenders to fire a shot that hit the woodwork.

Coureur was unlucky again eleven minutes later when he almost caught out Dheeraj from almost halfway line as his long-range strike was parried onto the crossbar by a retreating Dheeraj. It was a great effort from the Highlanders man who would almost scored an early contender for the goal of the season.

Jamil sent on Deshorn Brown late on and that shifted the momentum in the Highlanders’ favour who finished the game strongly. They were eventually rewarded in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Camara who was fed by substitute Brown found the top corner with a great strike from distance.

The defeat meant FC Goa remain bottom without a point this season while NorthEast United rose to eighth place after taking their tally to four points.

Jamil’s men take on Odisha FC on Friday next while FC Goa face SC East Bengal on Tuesday.