A superb performance in the first half took NorthEast United FC into the Indian Super League (ISL) play-offs after their 3-0 thumping of Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Monday (March 3). The Highlanders scored thrice in the first half, via Nestor Albiach, Jithin MS and Alaaeddine Ajaraie, and retained that lead till the end. (Highlights | More Football News)
The victory confirms NEUFC's entry into the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. They are now placed fifth with 35 points from 23 games, while the Marina Machans꧟, already out of the top-six race, have 24 points from 23 encounters.
🗹It all started with Nestor (7th minute)'s goal early on before Jithin (26th) and Ajaraie (38th) also got into the act in a first-half blitzkrieg. Chennaiyin had their moments in the second half but they failed to convert their chances.
🤡The tourists showed great urgency from the first minute of the game, pushing bodies forward in search of goal. Their early pressure saw Jithin force a save from Mohammed Nawaz in the fifth minute. A couple of minutes later, Nestor handed the lead to the Highlanders. Ajaraie found the Spaniard with a neat flick and Nestor controlled the ball before slotting it into the bottom right corner of the net.
🎃Things got complicated for the Marina Machans as they conceded again in the 26th minute. The move began with Mohammed Ali Bemammer playing a give-and-go with Jithin before sliding it to Ajaraie in space. The Moroccan eventually picked out Jithin’s surging run and the winger completed the brilliant move with a fine finish.
💫NorthEast United extended their lead in the 38th minute when Jithin lost his marker with a surging run from the left flank before finding Ajaraie in the box. Ryan Edwards was brilliant to block Ajaraie’s initial effort, but the Moroccan followed up the ricochet and slotted it home to score his 21st goal of the campaign.
🅺The second half saw Owen Coyle make three changes as he introduced Lukas Brambilla, Jitendra Singh and Laldinpuia with the hope of getting back into the game. Brambilla almost made an instant impact when he forced a save out of Gurmeet after he was picked out by Shields.
๊Wilmar almost felt he had brought Chennaiyin FC back into the game when he nestled it past Gurmeet in the 78th minute from Brambilla’s pass. However, the Colombian was judged offside. However, the hosts were soon reduced to 10 men when Ryan Edwards received his second yellow card for recklessly bringing down Ajaraie near the penalty area.
🉐Chennaiyin FC threw bodies forward and created chances, especially in the second half, but in the end, they lacked sharpness in front of the goal. It was the seventh clean sheet of the season for the Highlanders.
🔥Chennaiyin will next host Jamshedpur FC on March 9, whereas NorthEast United will welcome East Bengal FC in Shillong on March 8.
