Inter Kashi, featuring an all-Indian lineup, stunned the Durand Cup champions early in the game. Just five minutes in, Harmanpreet Singh pounced on a loose ball inside the box to give the I-League side an early advantage. The Highlanders, however, responded quickly and began to take control of possession, with Spanish midfielders Chema Núñez and Andy Rodríguez dictating the tempo.

Their persistence was rewarded in the 18th minute when Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie fired home a composed finish from Tondonba Singh’s curling cross to make it 1-1. NorthEast United continued to apply pressure and were rewarded again before halftime, as captain Miguel Zabaco rose highest to head in a well-delivered corner in the 40th minute, giving his side a 2-1 lead going into the break.

After halftime, NorthEast looked confident and nearly extended their advantage when Andy Rodríguez’s free kick narrowly missed the target. But as the game progressed and the rain persisted, Inter Kashi began to grow in confidence. Sumeet Passi’s long-range effort came close in the 66th minute, signalling their intent.

The equaliser arrived in the 74th minute when Karthik Panicker capitalised on a defensive lapse to calmly slot past goalkeeper Mirshad Michu, bringing Inter Kashi back on level terms. Despite late chances for NorthEast through Thoi Singh and Redeem Tlang, the I-League champions held firm to secure a well-earned draw.

Both sides will take valuable lessons from the contest as the Group B race begins to take shape, with NorthEast showing flashes of their attacking potential and Inter Kashi proving their resilience against top-tier opposition.

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Sergio Lobera & Co. hence finished the league season with 39 points and will be battling in the playoffs for a place in the semi-final. The Highlanders, who were last in the table in 2022-23, round off this campaign in the seventh spot with 26 points from 22 matches to their name.

It was a clinical outing by the Highlanders, and young attacker Parthib Gogoi opened the gateways for them in this dominant performance. Gogoi had started the season by scoring in each of their first three league games. He brought curtains down to the campaign with a goal to his name, albeit in a different style. Renowned for his out-of-the-box efforts, tonight, Parthib tapped in a low cross in the 12th minute to start the scoring for the Highlanders.

Four minutes later, the home team doubled their lead and it was their Spanish talisman Nestor Albiach who swung into action for the same. Parthib, lively in the final third, laid the ball up for Nestor, who carried the ball into the Odisha FC box with effortless ease and put it past Lalthuammawia Ralte to round off one of the most captivating solo efforts of the season.

The Juggernauts had a chance to pull a goal back soon afterwards. Odisha FC attacker Pranjil Bhumij drew a foul inside the 18-yard box in the 24th minute, but Roy Krishna’s shot from the spot was saved in the bottom left corner by NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Mirshad Michu. This was the first time that Krishna missed a penalty in his ISL career, having converted each of his previous 10 efforts. The Highlanders made them pay for this slip-up, with Phalguni Singh getting his name on the scoresheet in the added time of the first half. Gogoi’s cross inside the centre of the box was lapped upon and netted in by Phalguni to bag his team’s third goal of the night, and effectively hand his team a formidable lead in the proceedings.

NorthEast United FC can take heart from the fact that they have plenty of positives to build upon in the next season, whereas Odisha FC would arguably wonder why their impeccable season has been derailing gradually especially in such a critical juncture of the season.

Key Performer of the Match

Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United FC)

With a goal and two assists, Parthib Gogoi had a role to play in all of the three goals tonight. He created three goal-scoring chances, recorded 78% passing accuracy, and demonstrated impressive awareness in front of the goal to deliver a power-packed performance.

What’s next for both teams?

NorthEast United FC’s campaign comes to an end with this match, whereas Odisha FC will be competing in the ISL 2023-24 playoffs next.

Brief Scores

NorthEast United FC 3 (Parthib Gogoi 12’, Nestor Albiach 16’, Phalguni Singh 45+3’) – 0 Odisha FC 

Stat Pack

Points Table

Courtesy :- ISL Media

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With both teams edging for the vacant sixth spot in the standings, the Juan Pedro Benali-coached side took a decisive step forward, thanks to the goal by the in-form Jithin MS. However, two late strikes by defenders Ankit Mukherjee and Aakash Sangwan helped the Marina Machans secure their third straight win.

Chennaiyin FC are peaking at the right time, and they now stand at 27 points from 21 matches in the competition. With 23 points from as many matches, NorthEast United FC cannot catch up to them even if they win their only remaining fixture against Odisha FC. With 24 points and a match left to play, East Bengal FC are still in the tussle for the sixth spot with Chennaiyin FC.

Jithin MS has been one of the most in-form NorthEast United FC attackers in the last few games and he teed up with his teammate Parthib Gogoi admirably to draw the first blood after a listless opening half of the game. As the Highlanders pushed Chennaiyin FC behind with a quick offensive move, their forwards took positions accurately centred by the sprinting Jithin. Parthib is known to be lethal from distance but he curbed those instincts perhaps factoring in the greater interests of the team. His pass for Jithin was well weighted, and he did well to deposit it into the Chennaiyin FC net in the 49th minute.

Parthib’s awareness on this instance was perhaps a result of his two earlier failed attempts at hitting the target from outside of the box. In the 23rd minute, his shot missed hitting the net by a slight distance, with the ball flying over the crossbar. Sixteen minutes later, Redeem Tlang trusted Parthib on the edge of the box, laying off a pass for the youngster whose attempt at goal was blocked.

However, Chennaiyin FC recovered rhythm as the game entered its final 20-odd minutes. Their equaliser came arguably in the most unlikeliest of ways, with Aakash Sangwan’s attempt from the corner somehow getting lobbed into the back of the net on the bottom left corner to help Chennaiyin FC restore parity.

The Marina Machans steadily increased the intensity thereafter, with their domestic forwards at the centre of it all. Rahim Ali and Irfan Yadwad kept winning fouls, trying hard to make something out of set-pieces. However, as the clock hit the 91st minute mark, Rahim spotted Mukherjee in a goal-scoring position on the right side of the box. The fullback collected the assist delicately, before putting the ball into the bottom left corner to secure three points for Chennaiyin FC.

Key Performer of the Match

Ankit Mukherjee (Chennaiyin FC)

The fullback completed 11 out of his 18 passes, winning two tackles, making a couple of crosses, intercepting once, and bagging the eventual winner of the contest.

What’s next for both teams?

Chennaiyin FC will play next against FC Goa on April 14, whereas NorthEast United FC return to action against Odisha FC on April 13.

Brief Scores

Chennaiyin FC 2 (Aakash Sangwan 72’, Ankit Mukherjee 90+1’) – 1 NorthEast United FC (Jithin MS 49’)

Stat Pack

Points Table

Courtesy :- ISL Media

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Sushil Kumar Singh (84^th minute) cancelled out Koke’s penalty (34^th minute) to ensure that Mumbai City FC finished above the hosts with 16 points from 14 matches.

Even before the final league encounter between the two bottom-placed sides began, it was clear that the mathematic chance of Mumbai City FC making it to the last four had evaporated with Atletico de Kolkata managing to hold FC Goa to a 1-1 draw. This meant that the encounter being played in Guwahati became a battle to avoid the wooden spoon and it was the visitors who made the first move as the team attacked relentlessly in the first half.

Sushil Singh, who came in for Nicolas Anelka, almost put Mumbai City FC ahead in the fourth minute when he got the better of Kondwani Mtonga in the opposition box but his shot from an acute angle failed to beat NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Rehenesh.

The visitors continued to push ahead but that allowed a few opening for the hosts and Tomas Josl made the most of it when burst into the Mumbai City FC box and was according to the referee brought down by Deepak Mondal, which the experienced defender contested. Koke calmly slotted home the ensuing penalty past Subrata Pal and NorthEast United then held on to the advantage till half-time.

However, Mumbai City FC continued to maintain the pressure and came close to scoring twice – first when NorthEast United custodian Rehenesh managed to parry off a low strike from Abhishek Yadav in the 66^th minute and then Laldinka Ralte’s pile driver hit the crossbar five minutes later.

But Sushil finally ensured that Mumbai City would come home with their first-ever away point when he nodded home a cross from Jan Stohanzl in the 84^th minute after a short corner routine.

Nadong Bhutia could have put the visitors ahead in the 89^th minute but he failed to capitalise on the rebound following Dika’s attempt from long range.

Mumbai City FC coach Peter Reid was happy with Wednesday’s game. “It was a well played match. I think we missed out on a few chances, and so did North East. But that’s football, and overall it was a great game,” he said. “The whole ISL was a great experience,” the coach added.

Mumbai City FC assistant coach Steve Darby said, “India should now concentrate on I-League. The ISL had a lot of foreign strikers. I-League gives them a chance to develop Indian strikers, and India should focus on that.”

For Mumbai City FC their inaugural ISL campaign is over, but the team will come back next season stronger and push for a better finish.

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