Dominant Northeast United FC Secures 2-0 Victory Over Kerala Blasters FC in ISL 2023-24 Clash

In a high-stakes clash at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Ivan Vukomanovic’s Kerala Blasters FC faced off against Juan Benali’s Northeast United FC in a crucial ISL 2023-24 showdown. Northeast United emerged victorious with a convincing 2-0 win, bolstering their playoff aspirations in front of a vibrant crowd of over 4000 fervent fans.

Both teams made strategic lineup changes ahead of the match, with Northeast United seizing the opportunity to solidify their playoff chances by tweaking their squad. On the other hand, Kerala Blasters FC, who had already secured a playoff berth, made ten alterations to their starting lineup.

The game kicked off with both sides exploiting defensive frailties to gain an early advantage. Despite early opportunities created by Buan Samte and Redeem Tlang for Northeast United, the score remained level thanks to the vigilant defense of the Yellow Army.

In an intense encounter, Mohammed Aimen nearly broke the deadlock for Kerala Blasters FC with a brilliant solo effort, only to be denied by an exceptional save from Northeast United’s goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh. The match continued to be finely poised with both teams committing errors, resulting in a stalemate for an extended period.

Redeem Tlang eventually opened the scoring for Northeast United in the 23rd minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside, keeping the scoreline unchanged. The first half concluded with neither side able to capitalize on numerous chances, leaving the match finely balanced at 0-0.

The second half saw the emergence of Nestor Albiach as a key figure for Northeast United, who further elevated his performance with the arrival of teammate Romain Philippoteaux. Daisuke Sakai provided valuable contributions for Kerala Blasters FC, yet the visitors struggled to find the back of the net.

In the 83rd minute, Nestor Albiach delighted the home supporters by netting a crucial goal for Northeast United, igniting celebrations in the stadium. Jithin M.S. added a late goal to seal the victory for the Highlanders, propelling them from 11th to 7th in the points table and reigniting their hopes for a successful campaign in the Hero ISL.

Northeast United FC’s triumph over Kerala Blasters FC marks a significant turning point in their season, setting the stage for a potential dream run in the competition. Stay tuned to IFTWC for all the latest updates on Indian Football.