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NorthEast United FC scored a necessary 2-1 victory against Delhi Dynamos at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati to keep their Indian Super League – Season 3 semifinal hopes alive.
The Dynamos should have been ahead after only 3 minutes as a brilliant Florent Malouda through ball found Richard Gadze, but the Ghanaian beat T.P. Rehenesh but also put the ball wide. Delhi Dynamos controlled things and against the run of play Emiliano Alvaro’s shot was blocked by keeper Toni Doblas in the 18th minute to keep the score goalless.
Towards the end of the first half both teams had their chances with first Gadze denied by Rehenesh, then Seityasen Singh’s effort was palmed away by Doblas at the other end and finally Kean Lewis shooting over as the game remained goalless at the break.
The second half got off to a slow start, but on the hour mark NorthEast United FC went ahead. A long ball from Didier Zokora found Seityasen on the right wing, he beat Souvik Chakraborti and then Doblas to put the ball into the back of net.
The Highlanders were now on top and they doubled the lead in the 71st minute when substitute Robert Cullen found Romaric and he put the ball into the net in style. But they missed the chance to seal the game with a third goal and the Delhi Dynamos were able to reduce the deficit in injury time with the ISL’s top scorer Marcelinho adding his ninth goal of the campaign, a lovely strike from the side past Rehenesh.
But it was too little too late as NorthEast United FC scored a vital 2-1 victory to keep their semifinal hopes alive and they travel for the final league stage match to the Kerala Blasters and the winner of this game would be the final semifinalist or a draw would help the Blasters to move on.
Meanwhile the Delhi Dynamos were a pale shadow of the side which only a few days ago demolished FC Goa 5-1 at home. They now travel to the west coast to face Mumbai City FC for a top of the table clash on Saturday.
Match Awards
Club award: NorthEast United FC
Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Emiliano Alfaro (NorthEast United FC)
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Robert Cullen (NorthEast United FC)
Maruti Suzuki Swift Moment of the Match: Romaric (NorthEast United FC)
ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Robin Gurung (NorthEast United FC)
Hero of the Match: Seityasen Singh (NorthEast United FC)
