That is it from the first leg of the semi-finals. NorthEast United have one leg in the finals with this win. The first leg of the second semi-finals will take place on Saturday, 9th March. Mumbai City FC will host FC Goa. That match will begin at 1930 IST. Join us for that one. Till then, have a great time, Cheers!
Awards
The Club Award goes to NorthEast United FC as they won the game. The Limitless Player of the Match is awarded to Federico Gallego. The Winning Pass of the Match is given to Bartholomew Ogbeche. The Emerging Player of the game is Redeem Tlang and the Hero of the Match is Jose Leudo.
NorthEast United FC win a late thriller
What a game of football we have witnessed! We expected a firecracker and we witnessed one. NorthEast United FC went into the half time with a goal's lead courtesy Redeem Tlang but had also lost their talisman Bartholomew Ogbeche and Rowllin Borges. The away side started the second half on an attacking note and got what they deserved in the 82nd minute when Xisco Hernandez slotted home with a sliding finish in the 82nd minute. It looked like we will finish the first leg of the first semi-final all squared but there was drama right at the very end. Harmanjot Khabra pulled Juan Mascia in the box, around the end of the game. The referee spotted it and Juan Mascia slotted home from the spot kick to give NorthEast United FC a last gasp winner. That was the final play of the game and the Highlanders with that not only won their first game against the Blues but also enter the second leg with a goal's advantage. Bengaluru FC though do not go empty-handed. They have an away goal which can be the difference maker in this tie.
90'
Full time
The referee blows the final whistle and calls curtains on the game.
90'
GOOAALLLL!!!
The home fans are over the moon and NorthEast United FC will definitely go into the second half with a lead. The substitute Juan Mascia takes the spot kick and finds the right spot with power on the right top corner. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu goes the right way but had no chance to stop that.
90'
Goal-Penalty
Goal-Penalty - NorthEast United FC : Juan Mascia
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Bengaluru FC : Harmanjot Khabra
90'
Penalty!!!
Late drama here in Guwahati. Juan Mascia has been pulled back by Harmanjot Khabra in the box. The referee sees it and points to the spot. Harmanjot Khabra has been booked for it.
90'
Added time
Three minutes of added time has been signalled by the fourth officials.
88'
Handball
Federico Gallego fails to trap the ball correctly and the ball hits him on the hand. The referee spots it very well and gives Bengaluru FC the free kick.
82'
GOOAALLLL!!!
Bengaluru FC is back in the game. Xisco Hernandez to find the back of the net. Sunil Chhetri runs in the box with the ball, dribbles past the defender and cuts back a pass to Xisco Hernandez. Xisco takes it first time with a slide and finishes it. Pawan Kumar is pretty upset, he was really good the whole evening and deserved a clean sheet for his effort but he won't have it here. The home fans are absolutely shocked and are completely muted.
82'
Goal
Goal - Bengaluru FC : Xisco Hernandez
74'
Foul
Juan Mascia brings down Dimas Delgado with a tackle from behind. The referee spots it and gives Bengaluru FC a free kick.
70'
Delightful long ball
Xisco Hernandez puts a long ball for Sunil Chhetri in the box who times his run well beating the offside trap. Chhetri though is just short of the pass and Pawan Kumar is swift enough to hold onto it.
73'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Keegan Pereira, Out: Redeem Tlang)
66'
Nearly a goal
Dimas Delgado whips in a cross from the corner but is headed out of the box by a NorthEast defender. It though falls kindly to Xisco Hernandez who fires one from out of the box. His effort is a solid one but it just misses the post on his left.
61'
Yellow Card
Redeem Tlang puts a bad challenge on Xisco Hernandez. Redeem runs into Xisco from behind and uproots him off the ground. The referee spots it and books him for the challenge.
61'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : Redeem Tlang
59'
Substitution
First change for the away side. Xisco Hernandez comes in to replace Albert Serran.
59'
Substitution
Substitution - Bengaluru FC (In: Xisco Hernandez, Out: Albert Serran)
57'
Chance
Udanta Singh cuts back a ball for Miku in the box. Miku takes a volley straightaway but Mato Grgic stands in the way of the shot and blocks it.
52'
Good chance
Nikhil Kadam crosses into the box.A Bengaluru FC looks to head it clear. He does not do it convincingly and the ball on the way of Redeem Tlang. He runs in, takes a touch on it and looks to volley it on goal. But he miscues it and hits it off target. The idea was good but the execution wasn't.
48'
Cross
Harmanjot Khabra crosses into the box from the right wing. Pawan Kumar jumps and tries to catch the ball. He though fumbles a bit and Sunil Chhetri is standing right there to make such moments count. Pawan Kumar though hurries up and holds onto it against his chest.
46'
Second half
NorthEast United FC will pass the ball behind and start the second half. NorthEast United FC have made a change at half time. Nikhil Kadam replaces Rowllin Borges.
46'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Nikhil Kadam, Out: Rowllin Borges)
NorthEast United FC with the lead
What a great half of football we have had here in Guwahati. NorthEast United FC started on an attacking note and they rightfully established their lead in the game on the 20th minute, courtesy a beautiful curler from Redeem Tlang. Bengaluru FC responded strongly after that. When a loose ball was attacked by Dimas Delgado from the edge of the box. That was the only real threat possessed by the away side. The biggest blow for the hosts came on the brink of the end of first half when their skipper and highest scorer of this season Bartholomew Ogbeche had to come out with an injury. NorthEast United FC will now have to make do without him and will need to hold onto their lead. Bengaluru FC meanwhile will need to improve thier showing especially in the middle of the park and final third if they want to take something with them for the second leg. Second half begins in a while. Join us for that.
45'
Half time
The referee blows his whistle and brings an end to the first half.
45'
Substitution
A stun silence in the crowd. NorthEast United FC who have done so well till now have been hit by a huge blow. Their skipper Bartholomew Ogbeche has injured his hamstring and cannot take further part in this contest. He is replaced by Juan Mascia. Ogbeche hands over the captain's armband to Robert Lalthlamuana.
45'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: Juan Mascia, Out: Bartholomew Ogbeche)
45'
Added time
Two minutes have been added on at the end of regulation 45.
44'
Early cross
Alejandro Garcia Barrera puts an early cross in the box for Miku. It is though caught by Pawan Kumar and the keeper cuts off the danger with this.
41'
Yellow card
First yellow card of the game and it is for the away side. Miku recklessly takes down Jose Leudo from behind with a sliding tackle. The referee spots it and books Miku. It looked like a tackle out of frustration and Bengaluru FC need to keep their cool here if they want to get back into this one.
41'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Bengaluru FC : Miku
38'
Corner
Dimas Delgado takes the corner and puts the ball inside the box near the far post. Miku jumps and chests it, turns around and fires one towards the near post. His effort flies over the bar. But a brilliant effort by the forward.
35'
Foul
Redeem Tlang is up to something with the ball along the right wing. He though is struggling to cross or pass it to a teammate. Sunil Chhetri takes the possession of the ball from Redeem, Redeem tries to win it back and commits a foul on Chhetri. The whistle blows and Bengaluru FC get a free kick.
29'
Bad challenge
Rowllin Borges elbows Dimas Delgado on the face in an attempt to win the ball. The referee spots it. A Bengaluru FC free kick coming up.
24'
Almost a equalizer
A move that begins from a throw by Rahul Bheke on the right wing. He throws it towards Albert Serran, the ball goes over his head and is loosely cleared by the NorthEast defender. Dimas Delgado runs in on the ball and fires it on target. Pawan Kumar stops it with a dive on his right and saves the day for NorthEast United FC.
20'
GOOAALLLL!!!
NorthEast United FC draw the first blood in the semi-finals and rightfully so. Bartholomew Ogbeche passes the ball to Redeem Tlang in the box. Redeem takes a touch and finishes the proceedings with a perfect curler at the far post. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu does not even move and has no idea that the shot is going to end behind the net. A well deserved lead here for the home side and the crowd here in Guwahati are going wild with their celebration.
20'
Goal
Goal - NorthEast United FC : Redeem Tlang
17'
Foul
Robert Lalthlamuana brings down Harmanjot Khabra with a poor challenge from behind. The referee awards Bengaluru FC a free kick. Robert is not booked but has been warned by the referee. He needs to be careful now.
12'
Close chance
Federico Gallego crosses into the box from right for Redeem Tlang. It is though just wide of the diving Redeem and Albert Serran clears it out for a corner.
8'
Long range effort
Robert Lalthlamuana crosses into the box from the left wing. It is headed away from the danger by a Bengaluru FC defender. It's not over yet, it falls to Jose Leudo's feet and Jose fires it goalwards but is off target.
6'
Foul
Bartholomew Ogbeche is spotted holding a Bengaluru FC player near the half line. The referee is not happy about it and presents Bengaluru a free kick. He does not dish out a yellow card though.
3'
Nearly messed up!
Redeem Tlang from the right flank crosses for Lalthathanga Khawlhring in the box. Redeem's pass was though intercepted by Rahul Bheke and headed towards the keeper. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu can't hold it clean first but then holds onto it at last.
1'
Kick Off
We're underway! Bengaluru FC have pushed forward with the ball
and here we go.
Toss
NorthEast United FC win the toss and they will attack from right to left in the first half.
National Anthem
Both teams are out of the tunnel for the Indian National Anthem.
Jules Verne once quoted, 'put two ships in the open sea, without wind or tide, and, at last, they will come together'. And so we meet again after a short break, in this year's Indian Super League, for the semi-final stage. Tonight, NorthEast United FC will host Bengaluru FC in their first ever semi-final in ISL. The hosts are unbeaten from their last four matches in the league but they have won just one from those. Albeit, they will be looking to win this one and head into the second leg with some sort of an advantage. The visitors, on the other hand, started losing momentum at the wrong time. They have lost 3 matches off the last 5 matches. But one thing will surely keep their hopes high is their unbeaten record against the hosts. Will they extend their record or will the hosts can make use of home conditions?