ISL 3: Alfaro’s second half Strike takes Highlanders top of the table

by Chittu Shetty October 13, 2016

Northeast United FC move to the top of the table with 9 points in four games after Alfaro’s second half strike condemned the Pune side to their second defeat in three games.

FC Pune City began their home run of three games in the Indian Super League with a loss against new look Northeast United, as the visitors riding on now league’s top scorer Emmaneul Alfaro’s strike move to the top of the table. An evenly contested affair that saw red cards on either side of break, reduce both teams to 10 men, both teams were ultimately separated by Alfaro’s 79^th minute strike.

FC Pune City started in an improvised 3-5-2 formation with Arata Izumi, Raju Yumnam and Rahul Bheke sitting out for Lenny Rodrigues, Zohmingliana Ralte and Francis Fernandes.

NorthEast United made three changes in the line-up that lost to Mumbai, Nirmal Chettri, Shouvik Ghosh and Halicharan Narzary coming in for Robin Gurung, Reagan Singh and Seityasen Singh. NEUFC started in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Emiliano Alfaro as the lone striker. Nicolas Velez began on the left, while Didier Zokora, the marquee, starting in central midfield.

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Pune had the first opportunity of the game with a free kick from 30 yards in 4^th minute but Lucas shot was easily saved by Subroto Paul. After dull period when the ball mostly saw midfield, Narzary in the 19^th minute provide the cross for Zokora, whose header just went over the bar. Few minutes later, Lenny’s cross from the right saw no one from Pune’s side at the end to convert as the ball foxed the NEUFC defence including keeper Paul before being eventually cleared by Nirmal Chhetri.

In the 37th minute, Chettri leaned recklessly in with a raised foot, into the Pune City Anibal Zurdo’s ankles for which the Indian Defender was shown the red card as the away team was down to nine men.

Looking to take the advantage of the extra men on the field, Pune City began the second half bringing in a change with Arata Izumi coming in for Gourmangi Singh.

Minutes in to the half, Lucca’s attempt from distance went straight into the awaiting hands of Paul. North east started to rely on counter attacks and looked threatening as the home side despite being in a man advantage seemed in trouble against their fast paced opponents strike force.

In the 71^st minute, a second red card of the game was brought out, when Eduardo’s jump with Romaric for a long ball deemed as a bookable offense by referee, bringing out a second yellow card of the game for Eduardo which resulted in both the sides playing with 10 men for the last 20 minutes of the game.

In the 79^th minute, the visitors took the lead when Romaric with a great move found Velez down the right who picked up Alfaro in the middle; the striker instead of going for the shot slid the ball to an empty Katsumi on the far post, who returned it back for now unmarked Alfaro who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Edel Bete.

Looking for an equalizer the home side went for an all out attack, putting men forward but Northeast held on with resolute defending. In the first minute of Injury time, Northeast got a break with a counter from Velez crossing the ball for Romaric whose shot is straight at Bête.

At the other end, Pune had a good chance when Tato was brought down just outside the box. The resulting free kick from Luccas was poor as pune failed to get back in the game.

FC Pune City 0 – 1 NEUFC (Alfaro 79’)