NorthEast United FC completed a breath-taking comeback to overcome Chennaiyin FC 4-3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

• Chennaiyin took the lead through a Rowllin Borges own goal in the 5^th minute before Thoi Singh would go on to add two more goals in the 15^th and 32^nd.
• Bartholomew Ogbeche brought the away side back level with a stunning hat-trick, the first in the league this year, with goals in the 29^th,37^th and 39^th.
• Borges then competed the turnaround in the second half with a neat finish in the 54^th.

Chennaiyin began the game on a positive note and took the lead as early as the 5^th minute when Borges headed the ball into his own net from a dangerous corner by Anirudh Thapa. Within a space of few minutes, the hosts doubled their lead as Thoi finished off a brilliant move from the hosts. Jerry Lalrinzuala played a lofted ball behind NorthEast’s defence to Isaac Vanmalsawma, who sprayed the ball across the face of goal for Thoi to tap home.

Despite trailing by two goals, the Highlanders maintained their focus and got one goal back in the 29^th minute. A low drive from Federico Gallego was poorly handled by Karanjit Singh in goal. The rebounded effort fell to Ogbeche, who displayed quick feet to set himself up for a neat finish into the bottom corner.

However, in the space of three minutes Chennaiyin regained their two-goal cushion as Thoi bagged his second of the night. Raphael Augusto displayed exemplary footwork to get behind the NorthEast backline down the left wing before squaring it for Thoi, who was at the right place to tap home.

Just as John Gregory’s men seemed like regaining control of the game, up stepped Ogbeche to get his side back into the contest. The Nigerian forward was released on goal by a splendid pass from Borges. He chested the ball down before exquisitely lobbing it over Chennaiyin’s custodian.

Ogbeche wasn’t done yet and completed a sensational hat-trick in the 39^th minute with his best goal of the night. Another defence splitting pass from Gallego found NorthEast’s captain one-on-one with Karanjit. The forward expertly side-stepped the goalkeeper before passing the ball into the empty net. That goal was the last piece of action of a truly end-to-end first half.

Eelco Schattorie’s men continued from where they left off and took the lead for the first time 10 minutes into the second half through Borges. The midfielder was alert enough to pick up a loose ball outside the penalty box and brilliantly curled it into the bottom corner.

The hosts went in search of the equaliser and had a couple of half-chances towards the last quarter of the game. Defender Eli Sabia was presented with a good opportunity from a set-piece situation but was unable to direct his header on target.

Towards the end of the game, substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua had a golden chance to equalise. A brilliant cross from Gregory Nelson was headed into Jeje’s path by Andrea Orlandi. However, the Mizo Sniper failed to get the all-important touch to direct the ball goalward. The Highlanders then held on till the final whistle to deservedly go home with all three points.

HERO OF THE MATCH

When NorthEast were in dire need of a hero after going down by two goals, up stepped captain Ogbeche to bring them home. The Nigerian completed a stunning 10-minute hat-trick in the first half to lead the resurgence. His clever off the ball movement and precise finishing proved to be too much to handle for the Chennaiyin defence.

CLUB AWARDS:

Club Award – NorthEast United

Swift Limitless Player of the Match – Bartholomew Ogbeche

DHL Winning Pass of the Match – Federico Gallego

ISL Emerging Player of the Match – Jerry Lalrinzuala

Hero of the Match - Bartholomew Ogbeche

WHAT’S NEXT?

NorthEast will face Jamshedpur next at their home turf on October 25, while Chennaiyin will hope to get their first points on the board when they travel to Delhi on October 23.

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