Goa: First-half goals from Suhair VP and Lalengmawia helped NorthEast United FC confirm a place in the Indian Super League (ISL) playoffs with a 2-0 win over Kerala Blasters FC on Friday. This is only the second time NEUFC have made the top four. The last time they achieved the feat was in 2018-19, when they finished fourth.
The match started with the Highlanders pushing from the first minute and could have almost scored a goal in the first quarter of the match Dylan Fox failed to connect a Luis Machado cross. Bakary Kone came close to open the scoring for Blasters but missed a open header inside the box.
NorthEast scored their first goal after the first water-break. It was Suhair’s individual brilliance that gave Highlanders the lead in the 34th minute. NEUFC doubled their lead through a stunner from the 20-year-old Apuia in the 45th minute which basically settled the matter.
In the second half, Khalid Jamil’s men showed character and stepped up successfully to defend the 2-0 lead ended victorious in a fairy tale campaign to await the challenges in the play-offs.
The loss concludes a disappointing season for Blasters, who finish 10th with 17 points, with just three wins from 20 games, and the second-worst defensive record of the season
