NorthEast United registered an important win over FC Goa in a bottom-of-the-table clash. Elsewhere, Mumbai City FC eased past Bengaluru by three goals to one, with Igor Angulo netting yet another.
Ten minutes into their game against Goa, NorthEast United took the lead. A consolidated press from the Highlanders achieved a turnover inside the Goa half, and the ball was quickly played forward to Mathias Coureur. The forward, in turn, threaded it to Rochharzela in space, and the youngster slotted it into the corner of the net.
Three minutes after they had fallen behind, Goa leveled the match. NEUFC’s Gurjinder Kumar lost possession to Jorge Ortiz, whose cross into the box was missed by Alexander Romario Jesuraj. Nevertheless, Goa quickly recycled the ball to Alberto Noguera on the edge of the box, and his pass-cum-shot was touched in by Jesuraj.
The two teams battled for supremacy for the next eighty minutes, but neither side could gain the upper hand, that is until Khassa Camara stepped up in the third minute of stoppage time to score with a sensational effort from 25 yards.
The first win of the season for the Highlanders, who moved up to four points. Goa, meanwhile, remain rooted to the foot of the table, having lost all three of their games so far.
In the later kick-off, Bengaluru FC took on Mumbai City hoping to move closer to the top of the table. Their efforts to do so suffered a major blow in the 9th minute when Alan Costa’s handball allowed Igor Angulo to score from the spot – the City striker now leading the scoring charts with four goals. Nonetheless, Cleiton Silva restored parity in the 20th minute with a stunning free-kick, which he had won himself.
Mumbai took the lead again in the 54th minute through Mourtada Fall. The towering centre-back scored with a looping header at the back post from a set-piece – his second goal in two games for the Islanders.
Ygor Catatau came off the bench to put the game beyond any doubt in the 85th minute, turning in a rebound after Angulo’s header had hit the upright. With three wins from four, Mumbai City top the ISL table while Bengaluru are down in seventh.
