That's all from this game!!! FC Goa go on top after this win while NorthEast United FC remain on the eight position on the points table. On Thursday, the 9th of January, Bengaluru FC will host Jamshedpur FC. That match will start at 1930 IST. Until then, cheers.
Awards
FC Goa collect the Club Award for winning the match this evening. Hugo Boumous is given the Limitless Player of the Match Award. Ahmed Jahouh bags the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Mohammad Nawaz takes home the Emerging Player of the Match Award and Lenny Rodriques is the choice for the Hero of the Match Award.
A routine win!
Two goals and a clean sheet means FC Goa now have a three-point cushion at the top of the table. The visitors put in a shift to keep the Gaurs away from goal, however, their efforts eventually ended in vain. When in the 68th minute, a combination of a keeping error and an unfortunate clearance by Mislav Komorski lead to the first goal, which was an own goal. The second was scored from the spot in the 82nd minute by Ferran Corominas, after Jose Leudo was sent off for bringing him down in the box. Chances were rare for NorthEast United FC in the second half with FC Goa attacking, it was only one way traffic. The Gaurs deserved their win, while the Highlanders languishing in 8th spot will now feel that the games are running out for them. They need to turn results in their favour to climb up the table.
90'
Full time
Once the corner is cleared out by the FC Goa defender, the referee blows the whistle for full time and it ends FC Goa 2 - 0 NorthEast United FC.
90'
Another corner for NorthEast United FC
Milan Singh leads the counter and plays in Nikhil Kadam on the left. His delivery is at the far post Ahmed Jahouh heads it out for a corner.
90'
Added time
4 minutes have been added by the referee as injury time.
90'
Wait a minute there
Rupert Nongrum makes a foray forward and plays the ball to Martin Chaves on the right. Martin Chaves' cross is deflected for a corner. NorthEast United FC now have a corner, Nikhil Kadam takes it and it is headed clear.
87'
Sub for FC Goa
Final change for FC Goa as Seiminlen Doungel replaces Lenny Rodrigues.
87'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Goa (In: LEN DOUNGEL, Out: RODRIGUES)
85'
Substitution
FC Goa make the changes as Seriton Fernandes goes out and Amey Ranawade comes in.
85'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Goa (In: AMEY, Out: SERITON)
83'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: VAZ, Out: REDEEM)
82'
Goalll!!!
Ferran Corominas!!!! What a player. He takes his side 2-0 up and that is the game there and then. Ferran Corominas takes the penalty and shoots to the right. The keeper dives and gets a hand on it but it does not matter as the ball goes into the back of the net.
82'
Goal-Penalty
Goal-Penalty - FC Goa : CORO
81'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : F.GALLEGO
80'
Penalty to FC Goa
Ferran Corominas is FC Goa's lone man forward. He is played in by a long ball forward. Jose Leudo tracks back into the box and pulls Coro down to the floor. Leudo was the last man back, he is punished by the referee, who points to the spot and gives him the marching orders with a red card.
80'
Red Card
Red Card - NorthEast United FC : J.LEUDO
78'
Substitution - FC Goa
Jackichand Singh is replace by Manvir Singh.
78'
Substitution
Substitution - FC Goa (In: Manvir.S, Out: JACKI)
77'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - FC Goa : MANDAR
76'
Free kick wasted!
Seriton Fernandes slahes down Rakesh Pradhan on the left flank and gifts a free kick to NorthEast United FC. Martin Chaves takes the set-piece and directs it to the far post. Mohammad Nawaz comes off his line and catches the ball.
73'
Off target
Rupert Nongrum moves ahead with the ball and is just outside the box when he shoots but it is wide of the post.
68'
GGGOOOAAALLLL
Mislav Komorski scores an own goal! Really hard to take as NorthEast United FC were valiantly defending. Jackichand Singh is played in on the right-hand side. He whips in a low cross into the box. Mislav Komorski comes across at the near post but he can't sort out his feet in time. The ball is deflected goalwards. Pawan Kumar reacts in time but ends up diving over the ball and it creeps in past the goal line. FC Goa are 1-up to the good.
69'
Own Goal
Own Goal - FC Goa : KOMORSKI
66'
Substitution
Second change for NorthEast United FC. The skipper, Federico Gallego goes out and Milan Singh comes in.
67'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: MILAN, Out: F.GALLEGO)
63'
Close!
Redeem Tlang does reall well on the right flank to makes space for his cross. The ball is cleared only as far as Lalengmawia, his shot on goal takes a deflection and goes out for a corner. Martin Chaves takes the corner and Jose Leudo at the enear post flicks it. The ball falls loose at the far post and no NEUFC plyer is the to put it in.
60'
Substitution
First one of the game as Nikhil Kadam replaces Lalthathanga Khawlhring.
60'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: NIKHIL, Out: PUITEA)
58'
Keeper does well
Jackichand Singh plays in Lenny Rodrigues on the right flank. The fullback crosses the ball but it's too close to the keeper. Pawan Kumar clutches on to the ball for dear life.
55'
Couple of corners
Brandon Fernandes wins a corner and takes it. His first go at it is blocked by the first man, Redeem Tlang for another corner. The retake comes to nothing.
53'
Corner - FC Goa
The ball is played on the left to Mandar Rao Dessai. The skipper shows good pace to win a corner. The set-piece is taken short. Dessai has the ball again and he tries to cross but it's blocked.
48'
All happening now!
Jackichand Singh gets the ball on the left side of the box and shoots on target. Pawan Kumar makes a save and the ball goes to the far post. Brandon Fernandes follows it up with a shot. Reagan Singh is there to block it off for a corner. The set-piece resulted in nothing.
47'
Nice interplay
Hugo Boumous and Mandar Rao Dessai share a one-two on the left flank. Hugo Boumous has the ball and he then wins a corner and takes it as well. Nothing comes of it.
46'
Second half begins
The second half begins. This time, it is the Highlanders who will get us underway. No changes for either side.
A gripping half!
The first half ends 0-0, neither side could breach either defence. As predicted, FC Goa had the lion's share of possession. They also had all the telling chances. Both Hugo Boumous and Jackichand Singh created chances, but none of their teammates converted. NorthEast United FC will feel they did well to diffuse the Gaurs' threat. However, it'll be yet another uphill task for the Highlander's defence to keep out FC Goa. The hosts seem ominous to score. Lets see for how long can the visitors repel them. Stay tuned for the second half.
45'
Half time
The referee has blown the whistle for half and it is 0-0 at the break.
45'
Added time
2 minutes have been added as extra time.
44'
Hugo Boumous the creator
Hugo Boumous near the left byline, close to the box and beats Reagan Singh, the on coming defender and then fires in a teasing cross. Ferran Corominas comes charging in at the near post but can't get a foot on that. Pawan Kumar catches the ball.
41'
FC Goa bullying this
Hugo Boumous plays the ball to Mandar Rao Dessai on the left. The skipper plays a fine cross towards the far post. Mislav Komorski gets a foot in and he concedes a corner. Brandon Fernandes takes the set-piece it comes to nothing.
38'
Booked
Brandon Fernandes goes into the book for simulation in the middle of the park.
38'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - FC Goa : BRANDON
34'
Wasted
Redeem Tlang wastes possession, he tries to play a crossfield pass from the right but it is straight to Mohammad Nawaz. Reagan Singh made a lung-busting run in the middle to get to that one.
31'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : REAGAN
29'
Chance fizzles out
Federico Gallego gets past a couple of challenges and brings NorthEast United FC forwards. He plays the ball to his left to Martin Chaves, who then plays it towards Lalthathanga Khawlhring. Seriton Fernandes intercepts the ball but it still makes its way to Khawlhring. His shot is blocked by Fernandes for a throw-in.
24'
NEUFC are living on the edge
Jose Leudo clears Jackichand Singh's cross from the right. FC Goa get a corner. Brandon Fernandes takes it, the ball falls to Ferran Corominas, his shot is blocked by Federico Gallego.
19'
On the floor
Hugo Boumous is on the grass holding his left arm. There is a break in play and he is receiving treatment on the sidelines.
17'
On target
That's great build-up play on the left by the visitors. At the end of it, Martin Chaves gets the ball just outside the box, His shot is on target, and Mohammad Nawaz makes an easy save.
14'
Can't do much
Carlos Pena plays a hopeful long ball towards Ferran Corominas. It ends up on the feet of the opposition goalkeeper, Pawan Kumar.
9'
Off target!
Oh! That was close! Jackichand Singh receives the ball on the right and at the edge of the box. He goes through the gears on his way to the byline. Rakesh Pradhan, the defender can't keep up. Jackichand cuts it back for Ferran Corominas in the centre. FC Goa's top scorer can only kick it wide of the near post.
6'
At the other end!
In no time FC Goa comes storming in at the other end. Jackichand Singh crosses the ball from the right, Pawan Kumar comes off his line and catches it at the near post.
5'
Corner, NorthEast United FC
Martin Chaves takes the corner from the left. He directs it towards the far post where Rupert Nongrum's header is well wide of the target.
1'
Kick off!
FC Goa get us underway. The visitors have their tails up. They steal the ball from the Gaurs and in the first few seconds itself, Rupert Nongrum crosses the ball from the right flank. It's defended by Seriton Fernandes.
Toss
NorthEast United FC win the toss. Federico Gallego chooses to kick from left to right. FC Goa will kick off the first half.
National Anthem
The players line-up either side of the referees in respect of the Indian National Anthem. The toss is only moments away.
Mohammad Nawaz (GK), Carlos Pena, Seriton Fernandes, Mourtada Fall, Lenny Rodrigues, Mandar Rao Dessai (C), Jackichand Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Ahmed Jahouh, Hugo Boumous, Ferran Corominas.
Will FC Goa reach the top?
The 54th match in the ISL sees FC Goa play host to NorthEast United FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa. This will be the first match in the New Year for the Highlanders. Their visit comes after going winless in the last 2 months. Over this period, the Guwahati-based club managed to pick up only 3 points. NorthEast United FC are unbeaten on the road and will look to continue that against the Gaurs. However they’ll be without their first-choice goalkeeper, Subhasish Roy, who is suspended for this match. The visitors started their campaign brightly but too many draws have cost them. They sit 8th in the table having scored 9 goals in their 9 games so far. Asamoah Gyan has single-handedly scored 4 of those 9 goals. The reverse fixture was an ill-tempered 2-2 draw between these 2 sides. FC Goa’s Len Doungel was sent off, after which the Gaurs scored an equaliser thanks to Manvir Singh in injury time. The hosts will not want to leave things till so late this time round. The second-placed FC Goa, can take the top spot with a win or a draw. Their head coach Sergio Lobera, was very proud of the team’s performance in the most recent loss to Bengaluru FC. His team are the tournament’s highest goal scorers with 23 goals. Their midfield base of Brandon Fernandes and Ahmed Jahouh have been pivotal to the goals the Gaurs have scored. Hugo Boumous has got himself on the scoresheet in the last two games, having scored in the reverse fixture as well, he will be the man to watch out for the Highlanders’ defence. Who will come up trumps? Find out when, this crucial clash commences at 1930 IST.