NorthEast United FC ended their seven-match winless run in Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2020-21 after a 2-1 win over Jamshedpur FC at the Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Sunday. Ashutosh Mehta scored the opening goal in the game and new-signing Deshorn Brown doubled their lead before Peter Hartley halved the deficit for Jamshedpur.

• Ashutosh Mehta broke the deadlock in the first half for NorthEast United FC.
• The Highlanders doubled their lead the second half through Deshorn Brown before Peter Hartley reduced the deficit for Jamshedpur.

NorthEast saw more of the ball early on but Jamshedpur created a chance in the 8th minute when Nerijus Valskis received the ball in the opposition's box and shot on target to force Subhasish Roy into a save. The Highlanders then had an opportunity in the 20th minute after Federico Gallego’s delivery from the right corner went to Idrissa Sylla, who headed the ball towards goal.

Jamshedpur’s goalkeeper TP Rehenesh though made the save before spilling the ball to Dylan Fox, who shot at goal for Rehenesh to make another save. Rehenesh came good again in the 31st minute when Luis Machado produced an acrobatic effort off a cross from the right to test the goalkeeper.

They took the lead five minutes later after Ashutosh rose high at the near post to put in a thumping header from a corner to make it 1-0 for the Highlanders. Jamshedpur almost equalised immediately but Aniket Jadhav’s attempt on goal was cleared off the line by NorthEast as Khalid Jamil’s men went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The Highlanders doubled their lead just after the hour mark courtesy of Brown, who ran on to a ball before pulling the trigger to beat the goalkeeper and made it 2-0 for Northeast. Aitor Monroy’s freekick was blocked by the wall moments later before the ball fell kindly for John Fitzgerald, whose shot was blocked at the edge of the box by Khassa Camara.

A few minutes later, Subhasish’s goal-kick went to Valskis, who took the ball into the box and shot for the goalkeeper to dive and make a save. Jamshedpur piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the match but NorthEast defended resolutely.

Jamshedpur however did pull one back in the 89th minute after Hartley produced a towering header to score a consolation goal for Owen Coyle’s men.

Hero of the Match – Federico Gallego

The Uruguayan playmaker covered every blade of grass against Jamshedpur FC. He provided two assists in the match and created five chances for his teammates. Defensively, he made a successful tackle and one block.

Other Match Awards:

Club Award – NorthEast United FC

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Federico Gallego (NorthEast United FC)

Watch the Match Highlights here: