ISL 3: Highlanders beat Delhi 2-1, keep Play-off hopes alive

by Chittu Shetty November 30, 2016

Second half goals from Seithyasen and Romaric helped Highlanders beat the Lions at home despite Marcelinho’s late goal in injury time.

The Highlanders started with five changes as TP Rehenesh, Nirmal Chettri, Robin Gurung, Rowllin Borges and Yusa Katsumi were back in to starting eleven in a 4-2-3-1 formation On the other hand the visitors opted for a 4-3-3 formation along with two changes from the team that demolished Goa 5-1 few days back, as Toni Doblas and Lalchawnkima were back in to the playing eleven.

The game started with Delhi’s Malouda opening up the home defence with an accurate pass for Gadze who was through on goal with just keeper to beat. However gadze’s final touch lacked the finishing as the ball went off target.

Northeast were soon forced to have a substitution with injured Velez being replaced by Robert Cullen. Later on at the half hour mark, the home side had a good chance to take a lead when Alfaro’s pass from middle was inches away from the Japanese Robert Cullen who had made his run through the center as Doblas was alert enough to clear the danger.

In the 37th minute, Romaric found Alfaro in space but the Uruguayan’s shot was amazingly saved by Doblas, the rebound went to Cullen who cut it back in for the Uruguayan, but he was shoved down by Souvik Chakrabarty, with the referee not interested in the home side’s penalty claims.

Delhi had few more chances just before half time through Kean Lewis and Marcelinho as both missed their chances to go in to the tunnel with nothing to show.

Also Read: ISL 3: ATK confirm semis spot with a draw against Blasters

He second half started with passive exchanges between the two sides but at the hour mark the home team went ahead when a long ball from Zokora saw Seithyasen get past both Kean and Souvik with pace before placing the ball over the line past a off the line Doblas to make it 1-0 for The Highlanders.

Northeast with the lead had springs on their feet with Romaric going forward soon but his final shot was deflected off tebar. In the 71^st minute, Northeast doubled their lead when Cullen’s through ball on the right found Romaric who did well to get past his marker and shoot it past the keeper to make it 2-0.

With two goals lead Highlanders decided to shut down the game with defence and going up on occasional counters chances. Alfaro came close to make it three for the home side when his header went just inches of the post.

However In the second minute of injury time, Delhi pulled one back when Marcelinho on the right slotted his shot to the roof of the net past Rehenesh to make it 2-1 and take his tally to nine goals for the season.

The match ended at 2-1 score line in favour of home side, the match between the Blasters and Highlanders will now be a deciding game as the winner takes the last spot of Play-offs.

Northeast United FC 2 (Seithyasen 60’, Romaric 71’) – 1 Delhi Dynamos (Marcelinho 90+2’)