Guwahati: Northeast United FC bagged their 2nd consecutive win at home in the ongoing ISL 2024-25. They defeated Odisha FC 3-2 on Sunday afternoon amidst a 10000-plus home crowd.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie became the first player in the history of the Indian Super League (ISL) to score in his first seven matches in NorthEast United’s resolute 3-2 victory over Odisha FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here on Sunday.
In his Diwali greetings, Juan Pedro Benali had promised the fans that the team would celebrate Bhai Dooj after the match and his men delivered for him. Ajaraie (12, 40) and substitute Guillermo Fernandez (70) were on the scoresheet to earn Juan Pedro Benali’s men their second consecutive win at home. For Odisha FC, Hugo Boumous (60) and Diego Mauricio (83) were on the scoresheet.
The win takes NorthEast United FC back to the fifth spot in the ISL 2024-25 standings. The Highlanders are on 11 points from seven games with three wins, two defeats and two draws.
The game kicked off with an electric atmosphere and the Highlanders started the game on a positive note, coming close to scoring in the opening phase. A fast start has been a hallmark of NorthEast United FC this season and they maintained the tradition.
Ajaraie, who is the league’s leading goal-scorer, anticipated where the second ball would fall and positioned himself perfectly to receive Parthib Gogoi’s touch in his path and rifled a shot into the far bottom corner past Odisha FC custodian Amrinder Singh.
The Highlanders continued their dominance on the ball and came close on numerous occasions. They doubled their lead at the 40-minute mark when Jithin MS found Ajaraie in space, who made no mistake in scoring 9 goals from seven matches. The Highlanders went into the break 2-0 up.
In the second half, Odisha FC upped the pressure but Gurmeet Singh commanded his area well to thwart the pressure that Odisha FC exerted. Juan Pedro Benali’s men showed incredible resilience to regain control after Boumous’ strike made it 2-1.
The gaffer shuffled his pack with a double substitution of Guillermo and Macarton for Gogoi and Nestor and the former made an instant impact, turning in a low cross from Ajaraie to put the Highlanders 3-1 up on the night.
Gurmeet Singh made a save from a point-blank range shot of Mauricio in the stoppage time to ensure Odisha FC did not snatch a late point and was lauded as the Player of the Match by head coach Benali in the post-match press conference.
Northeast United FC travels to Bengaluru to face table-toppers Bengaluru FC on 8 November in the first of three away matches.
