NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali was delighted with the result but admitted his team wasn’t at their best as they defeated Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday.

Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored in each half as NorthEast United FC handed Jamshedpur FC their second home defeat of the season. The result saw the Highlanders climb to fourth place, just one spot behind Jamshedpur FC, although with a game in hand.

It also marked NorthEast United FC’s return to winning ways and secured their eighth victory of the campaign. Benali acknowledged the significance of the win and expressed his satisfaction with securing three points.

“Very important win for us, in a very difficult field. A very difficult team to play against. It was not our best game we can say. We were not playing very good football but the most important (thing) at this time and this moment is not to play nice but to get points. We know how Jamshedpur FC play; their set-pieces, the long throws, long balls to the strikers and trying to get second balls. We tried to stop it. We stopped it most of the time and we got the three points. Happy to go back home with three points,” he said in the post-match press conference.

While Jamshedpur FC had slightly more possession and created better chances, they were inefficient inside the box. They registered only three shots on target compared to six by their opponents. Benali admitted that his side found it difficult at the JRD Tata Sports Complex but emphasized the importance of getting the job done.

“The strategy is easy on board but when you are in the field, a lot of things happen. And this is how it goes. I said it’s very, very difficult to play against Jamshedpur FC. But we’re happy to win the two games. Seven goals, no goals against us. That’s the most important and the three points at the moment with the last four games for us. It was a challenge and we got it,” he explained.

A brace saw Ajaraie take his goal tally for the season to 20 goals from 21 games. The Moroccan forward is leading the race for the Golden Boot and is in red-hot form. Besides scoring from open play and converting a penalty, his work rate was immense as he also contributed to the clean sheet. While praising the forward, Benali also credited the team effort behind his success.

“It’s not only Alaa(eddine Ajaraie). There’s too many players who give the ball to support and make a penalty. Thoi (Singh), who was in the middle, who was defending, the full-backs, the goalkeeper, the players on the bench, the players that work hard so Alaa can score and this is what is important in a team. It’s not one player who makes the team. It’s the team who makes the player. Very happy for Alaaeddine.. Everybody is happy but I’m happy for the three points also,” he said.