Game 42 of the 2015 Hero Indian Super League saw hosts NorthEast United FC register a comfortable 2-0 victory over visitors Mumbai City FC at the Indira Gandhi stadium in Guwahati on Friday. The 15,123 visitors were treated to goals from Bruno Arias and Diomansy Kamara in the 41st and 85th minutes.

NEUFC headed into the game on the back of a 4-1 loss to Kerala Blasters FC and head coach Cesar Farias made seven changes, hoping to shake things up a bit. Mumbai's player-cum-coach Nicolas Anelka made four changes to the team that was drubbed 7-0 by league leaders FC Goa. The game saw debuts handed to Victor Mendy for NEUFC and Saran Singh for Mumbai, with both teams desperately in need of a victory.

Mumbai came out with the right intent, suggesting that the team wanted to put the Goan nightmare behind them. Saran tested NEUFC keeper TP Rehenesh as early as the first minute, with a thunderous volley on target but the goalie was not troubled as the ball came to him at a perfect height. More enterprising play was on display from Mumbai in the first fifteen minutes but it was NorthEast that got into the game more as the half wore on. Their persistence eventually paid off towards the end of the first half when Kamara was brought down in the box by Rowlinson Rodrigues and the referee deemed the offence bookable and awarded a penalty. Arias stepped up to the spot and coolly slotted the ball past Subrata Paul.

The second half was a cagier affair, with NorthEast sitting compact at the back and keeping their passing tidy. Sony Norde, back with the Mumbai squad after returning from international duty, was introduced in the second half to try and inspire Mumbai to force an outcome. His pass to Anelka in the 80th minute was put away towards goal perfectly but Rehenesh pulled off a brilliant instinctive safe to deny the Mumbai skipper from point-blank range. At the other side, second half substitutes Nicolas Velez and Simao added some spark and zest into the Highlanders attack and it wasn't long before their influence produced an outcome. Simao sent a brilliant free-kick which drew Subrata out of his line but the keeper, caught in a mix with Kamara and his defenders, spilled the ball for Kamara to simply tap into an empty net. Mumbai tried in vain to get a consolation goal but the NorthEast defence stood firm to keep a clean sheet.

Today's result propelled NEUFC into the top half of the table into the fourth spot and very much in contention for a spot in the semis. The result for Mumbai, however, has put their semis chances in serious jeopardy.

Club Award – NorthEast United FC

Swift Moment of the Match – Rehenesh TP [NorthEast United FC] (Watch here)

Amul Fittest Player of the Match – Sunil Chhetri [Mumbai City FC]

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Seityasen Singh [NorthEast United FC]

Hero of the Match – Diomansy Kamara [NorthEast United FC] (Watch here)