NorthEast United FC will be looking for their first win in five games in the 2016 Hero Indian Super League when they take on FC Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Friday. The Highlanders will need to arrest their slide down the league table to keep their semis hopes alive having lost their last three games and managed just one point from their last four matches. NorthEast currently have 10 points from eight games and head coach Nelo Vingada has no illusions with regard to the importance of their encounter against Goa tomorrow.“Tomorrow is a crucial game for us. We started the league very well, even when we lost, we played good football. Only in the last match, our performance was not up to the mark. I regret what happened with Goa, they will be missing some players [Gregory Arnolin and Richarlyson due to suspensions]. Some of our players too cannot play due to injuries and suspension. Tomorrow is a very important game for us and hopefully we can return to our level. I see Goa as the most difficult team and have a lot of respect for them. Tomorrow hopefully, we will be much better than our last game,” Vingada told reporters at the pre-match press conference.While NorthEast enter the contest in a miserable run of form, Goa’s record at home this season has been just as bad having lost all their three matches at Fatorda so far this season. Vingada believes that home advantage counts for very little in the Hero ISL. “All teams have lost at home, this means playing at home is not a big advantage. There is not much difference between the teams. As we remember, the last time we played against Goa we scored the first goal and in our last match we conceded a goal, this is quite unusual… So, tomorrow playing home or away will not make a big difference. I know Goa have not yet won at home and they won’t be having some players but the players that will be on the field, they will fight for the prize,” he said.The 63-year-old was harsh in his assessment of his players’ performance following their last game against Mumbai City FC. Commenting on how his players took the criticism, the Portuguese said: “I critique myself first. My team is like my second family, if there are problems in the family I will solve it. The position that I’m in, I’m supposed to tell what I’m feeling. The players were feeling the same thing. Delhi are in a good position with 16 points but that is not enough. When we had 10 points from five games, I said the same thing that it is not enough. Anything is possible for all teams including Goa.”The Highlanders’ top-scorer this year with five goals, Emiliano Alfaro is set to miss the match against the Gaurs after his four yellow card this season resulted in an automatic one-match suspension. When asked for an injury update on the rest of his squad, Vingada said: “Romaric is improving, he is still not fit. It will be a risk to start with him. Nico [Velez] is well now, as you know he was substituted against Chennai. Subrata [Paul] is much better, he is improving but I need to see today his condition.”
