ISL 2020/21 | NorthEast United inch nearer to playoffs after win over East Bengal

Image Source : TWITTER/@INDSUPERLEAGUE NorthEast United now want only a level from their ultimate league match in opposition to Kerala Blasters to qualify for the play-offs.
NorthEast United inched nearer to a play-off berth with a 2-1 win over 10-man SC East Bengal in an Indian Super League match on the Fatorda Stadium right here on Tuesday.
Suhair Vadakkepeedika’s (forty eighth) strike and an personal objective from Sarthak Golui (fifty fifth) put NorthEast United forward earlier than SC East Bengal pulled one again within the 87th minute.
The win took Khalid Jamil’s facet again into the highest 4. They now have 30 factors from 19 matches, degree on factors with FC Goa in third.
NorthEast United now want only a level from their ultimate league match in opposition to Kerala Blasters to qualify for the play-offs.
NorthEast made one change as Nim Dorjee got here in for Ashutosh Mehta. East Bengal made eight adjustments to their facet which misplaced to ATK Mohun Bagan as solely Matti Steinmann, Sarthak Golui and Raju Gaikwad had been retained within the enjoying XI.
Despite not having regulars, SCEB made life troublesome for NorthEast. The Highlanders had a couple of half-chances however East Bengal contained them nicely. Mirshad Michu made an early save to disclaim Deshorn Brown from shut when he toe-poked a Luis Machado cross from contained in the field.
Michu was compelled into one more save when Suhair tried a shot from a distance. The rebound travelled to Machado, whose try was fruitless.

Later, Machado and Brown mixed from a set-piece however the Jamaican was unable to hassle Michu. SCEB’s Jeje Lalpekhlua had a very good likelihood within the thirty fifth minute however his header went huge.
With no clear-cut possibilities for both facet and the match was largely restricted to the midfield, the groups went in degree on the break.
It was a unique NorthEast facet within the second session. They took the lead from their first likelihood of the half. Picking up the ball from the left, Imran Khan drove ahead earlier than serving an correct by means of cross to Suhair, who scored his first objective of the marketing campaign.
The Highlanders intensified their assaults after taking the lead and it didn’t take lengthy to get their second. But this time it was an own-goal that doubled their lead.
Dorjee whipped in a cross from the suitable and in an try to clear, Sarthak sliced the ball off his shin into the again of the online.
Things went from unhealthy to worse for the Kolkata group who needed to play the final 20 minutes with a person much less. Gaikwad introduced down Brown outdoors the field and the referee confirmed him his second yellow.
With lower than 5 minutes on the clock, Sarthak redeemed himself with a nice objective. Surchandra Singh delivered the freekick proper into the center that Sarthak nodded in.