North East United FC vs FC Goa Match Report

North East United FC 1-1 FC Goa

NorthEast United FC line-up

1.Rehenesh, 2.Khongjee, 15.Garciacutea, 11.Capdevila, 16.Robin, 7.Do, 4.Mtonga, 6.Chansa, 17.Adinga, 10.Koke, 25.Durga

FC Goa line-up

1.Seda, 2.Debabrata, 5.Bengelloun, 15.Gregory, 3.Narayan, 6.Peter, 14.Gabriel, 7.Pires, 27.Santos, 24.Miranda, 25.Martins

North East United FC who represent the eight states of the North East where playing their third game at the home ground as the awaited the Goan side captained by Pires at the Indira Gandhi Stadium which was bustling with 30000 fans. The game saw the two teams share points and Goa earn their first ever ISL points.

The North Easterners started well with keep a host of possession as they passed they passed the ball well. Alexandros Tzorvas who was rested with Rehnesh TP coming in for him, made a blunder on the 17th minute as the Goan 's capitalized on the error with Gregory Arnolin scoring his second goal of the tournament. Arnolin who has been has been the torch bearer of the Goan side was clever enough to pounce on the goalkeepers error, as he put Goa in a good position. But not even the one third of the game played, it meant the home side who had won one and lost from the opening two games had enough time to at least to salvage a draw.

A penalty in the 36th minute of the game, saw give the home side a lease of life and a hope to win the game as Koke scored and equalised and brought teams back on level. The John Abraham co-owned side where dominating proceedings as the game headed into the second half. To everyone's surprise the North East side where giving everything they had in attack, but the Goan side sat back and defended well. In the 71st minute, FC Goa striker Ranti Martins thought he scored the winner, only for it to called off side by the lines man. The final minutes saw no side showing much impetus, the game ended as 1-1 draw.