ISL 5: Late goals spur NorthEast United to 2-1 comeback win over Kerala Blasters

Late goals from Bartholomew Ogbeche and Juan Mascia helped NorthEast United edge past Kerala Blasters 2-1 in a thrilling encounter at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Friday.

Matej Polatnik gave Kerala the lead after a barren first half but skipper Sandesh Jhingan gave away a penalty in the dying minutes from which Ogbeche levelled the scores before Mascia netted a stunner to clinch all three points from the home team.

#NEUKER turned out to be a match to remember as 2⃣ late goals in added time secured all 3⃣ points for @NEUtdFC against @KeralaBlasters!

More videos: https://t.co/8jtqJIjojH#ISLRecap #LetsFootball #HeroISL #FanBannaPadega pic.twitter.com/YfvCJlCM1e

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 23, 2018

In a goalless yet thrilling first half, both sides had plenty of opportunities to score but failed to find the net. Ogbeche himself could have netted a hat-trick in the opening quarter of the clash but was found wanting in the final third.

NorthEast United had as many as six corners within the first half-hour but failed to test Kerala goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh, while Mislav Komorski miscued two free-kick opportunities and former PSG man Ogbeche had another shot brilliantly parried away by Singh.

Returning duo Halicharan Narzary and Seiminlen Doungel were the main threats for Kerala and most of their attacks came from these two. Playing at their former home, Narzary even banged the upright in the 37^th minute while Doungel skied the rebound.

But despite the home team’s dominance, it was Kerala, who took the lead against the run of play. Unmarked from a corner, Poplatnik headed home a Zakeer Mundampara corner in the 73^rd minute to put Kerala ahead.

From there, victory looked certain for the Blasters – a first after six winless matches, the last two of which have ended in home defeats to Goa and Bengaluru – until Jhingan’s brain fade moment pulled the trigger on their head.

The Blasters skipper barged into Mascia in the first of a seven-minute long extra-time giving away a cheap penalty. Ogbeche stepped up and calmly nodded the ball home to bring his side back into the contest.

Then spurred by the late equaliser, NorthEast struck again this time through a ferocious volley after receiving a pass from Rowlin Borges in the 96^th minute.

Nikhil Kadam’s cross was brilliantly brought down by Borges before he found Mascia, with the Uruguayan blasting the net with a terrific volley that travelled between Singh’s gloves.

The win took NorthEast to third in the table on 14 points from seven games, while Kerala Blasters remain stagnated on seventh with seven points from a match more.

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