That is all from us today. Do join us on Sunday for the match between Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC at 1930 IST. Adios!
Awards!
The Club Award goes to NorthEast United FC for winning the game. Xisco Hernandez is given the Limitless Player of the Match Award. Rakesh Pradhan gets the Winning Pass of the Match Award. Redeem Tlang takes the ISL Emerging Player of the Match Award while Asamoah Gyan collects the Hero of the Match Award.
A flash at the start and the end
NorthEast United FC go to the top of the ISL table with this win. They scored in the second minute, courtesy Redeem Tlang and then with six minutes remaining on the clock, Asamoah Gyan gave the Highlanders victory. It was a hard-fought game which saw the momentum shifting throughout. Odisha FC took the game to the hosts after the half time break. They were rewarded for their persistence in the 71st minute as Xisco Hernandez poked in the leveller. Immediately after that, the visitors had Carlos Delgado red carded, which handed the impetus to the Highlanders. The wily fox in the box, Asamoah Gyan helped himself to a free header in the 84th minute to put the Highlanders back in the lead. That took the wind out of the sails of the visitors who couldn't make a second comeback. Odisha FC's overall gameplay was promising but when it mattered the most, they fell short. NorthEast United FC will love this win as it is their first of the season and that too in front of their home crowd. So on the eve of Diwali, NorthEast United FC are on top of the table!
90'
Full time
The ref brings the match to an end and NorthEast United FC take their first three points of the season.
90'
High and wide
Redeem Tlang challenges the defender and regains the possession of the ball at the edge of the box. He runs in with it but flashes his shot over.
90'
Injury Time
FOUR minutes added on.
90'
Odisha FC miss a chance
Xisco Hernandez is on the ball for a free kick. Do ten-man Odisha FC have a chance? It's a no. The ball is cleared by Maximiliano Barreiro who leads the counter for the hosts but is halted by Nandhakumar Sekar. He fouls Barreiro at the halfway line.
90'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Odisha FC : NANDHA
89'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : REDEEM
89'
Substitution
Substitution - Odisha FC (In: DANIEL, Out: VINIT)
87'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: SHOUVIK, Out: VAZ)
84'
NorthEast United FC lead again
From the corner, Lalthathanga Khawlhring puts in an outswinger with his left foot. Asamoah Gyan at the near post runs in to meet the ball with his head. It's a free header and it meets the back of the net. Odisha FC's keeper, Arshdeep Singh is flat-footed and can only see the ball go in. NorthEast United FC have stormed back ahead.
84'
Goal
Goal - NorthEast United FC : A.GYAN
82'
End to end football
Jerry Mawhmingthanga for Odisha FC is found on the right flank. He crosses it. Aridane Santana gets the ball and lays it off to Xisco Hernandez, who is pushed to the floor. NorthEast United FC takes the ball to the Odisha FC's box and gets a corner.
79'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: PUITEA, Out: MILAN)
78'
Off target!
A nice loopy ball to Asamoah Gyan near the box and he squares it up for Maximiliano Barreiro. Maximiliano goes for a long range shot but hits it wide of the target.
73'
Odisha FC a man down
Play resumes after the goal and NorthEast United FC get the ball to Panagiotis Triadis. On his way to the goal, Carlos Delgado, the last man, tackles Triadis by pulling him down on the ground. The ref is convinced to flash the red card. From the subsequent free kick, Maximiliano Barreiro fires it wide.
72'
Red Card
Red Card - Odisha FC : C.DELGADO
71'
Odisha FC are level!
Xisco Hernandez scores and Odisha FC are on level terms. Diawandou Diagne flies down the right flank to fire in a cross. It goes through legs to Xisco Hernandez, who pokes the ball with the outside of his boot. It flies into the bottom left corner of the net. Game on!
71'
Goal
Goal - Odisha FC : XISCO H.
70'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : VAZ
68'
Ouch!
Wayne Vaz slides towards Marcos Tebar to block his shot. It rolls to Xisco Hernandez who scuffs his shot to Subhasish Roy.
65'
Odisha FC living on the edge
Redeem Tlang goes to ground in the box but it's adjudged as fair. Odisha FC clear it and a Reagan Singh foul gives the visitors a free kick.
57'
An Odisha FC chance is missed
Nandhakumar Sekar, the substitute on Odisha FC's left flank receives a ball over the top. He moves into the box with it, Wayne Vaz slides to block him but Sekar cuts inside him to evade the slide. Nandhakumar Sekar shoots the ball aiming for the top corner but miscues it. The keeper slides to make the stop but before that Heerings Kai does the clearance.
61'
Substitution
Substitution - NorthEast United FC (In: MAXI BARREIRO, Out: TRIADIS)
52'
Odisha FC trying to get a grip
Marcos Tebar, the skipper for the visitors, regains the ball deep in his own half and carries the ball to the right flank to set off a charge down the right. Sadly for him, it is put out for a throw-in.
47'
NorthEast United FC step on the pedal again
Jose Leudo in the center of the park finds Martin Chaves, who crosses it for Redeem Tlang. With his dancing shoes on, Redeem Tlang teases his marker to fire in a cross towards Asamoah Gyan. Vinit Rai, for the visitors, is first to the ball. He clears it for a corner. Panagiotis Triadis takes it but Wayne Vaz' header is meek and the ball ends up in the hands of Arshdeep Singh.
46'
Play resumes
NorthEast United FC get us underway. Odisha FC make two changes at the half. Martin Guedes is out and Diawandou Diagne replaces him. Also, Nandhakumar Sekar replaces Shubham Sarangi.
46'
Substitution
Substitution - Odisha FC (In: NANDHA, Out: SHUBHAM)
46'
Substitution
Substitution - Odisha FC (In: DIA DIAGNE, Out: PEREZ GUEDES)
NEUFC hold the upper hand!
A goal in the first two minutes pretty much put NorthEast United FC in the driver's seat. But Odisha FC wrestled hard in a half dotted with chances for both the side. Redeem Tlang gave the hosts an early lead and they had more clear-cut chances thereafter. It took until the 35th minute for Odisha FC to force Subhasish Roy into evasive action. He made two saves in two minutes to thwart away the shots on target that Odisha FC had. For the hosts, goalscorer, Redeem Tlang, Panagiotis Triadis and Asamoah Gyan have looked bright with silken touches while Jerry Mawhmingthanga and goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh have been crucial for the visitors. Stay tuned for the second half.
45'
Half time
The referee brings a brisk half to an end. Entertaining stuff really, both teams gave it a go.
45'
Added time
Two minutes are added on by the referee.
45'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : A.GYAN
45'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : ROY
44'
A chance goes begging
Panagiotis Triadis glides down the left and tries to cross from the byline. Shubham Sarangi blocking his cross concedes a corner. Panagiotis Triadis takes it but Redeem Tlang for the Highlanders, concedes a free kick in the opposition box.
42'
Can't make the most of it
Odisha FC are on the ball in the middle of the park but they are unable to make inroads in the NorthEast United FC penalty area. Xisco Hernandez gets a chance to take a shot but it is off target.
38'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - NorthEast United FC : TRIADIS
35'
Finally a sustained period of Odisha FC pressure
A cross-field ball releases Jerry Mawhmingthanga on the right flank. He shoots it on target and Subhasish Roy pushes it out for a corner. Xisco Hernandez takes the corner but it is cleared. Subsequently, a ball is crossed into the box and Carlos Delgado heads it. It is on target towards the right top corner, Subhasish Roy is there with a flying save again. He pushes the ball to the crossbar. Well played Odisha FC and credit to Subhasish for keeping his team's lead.
32'
NorthEast United FC are calling (and taking) the shots
Panagiotis Triadis takes a shot from 20-yards out. It's on target and Arshdeep Singh dives to push the ball away.
27'
More NorthEast United FC pressure
A cross-field ball is played to release Martin Chaves on the left. The wide man takes the ball to the byline in the box and crosses it to the far post. It is headed out and Milan Singh at the edge of the box powers his drive out for a goal kick.
22'
Odisha FC under pressure
NorthEast United FC have a corner, Panagiotis Triadis takes it. His delivery doesn't beat the first man but it is straight to Jose Leudo, who deflects it back. Panagiotis Triadis gets a second turn at it. His cross from the byline is at the far post but Wayne Vaz heads it wide.
20'
Yellow Card
Yellow Card - Odisha FC : SHUBHAM
18'
Is that a yellow card?
Narayan Das tackles Redeem Tlang. It's too rough, a free kick is conceded at the center of the park.
13'
Box to box football
Jose Leudo finds Redeem Tlang on the right, who finds Asamoah Gyan at the edge of the box. A double team effort to block the Highlanders' no. 3. Vinit Rai regains for Odisha FC and sets off a counter for the visitors. It ends with a Martin Guedes cross which is straight to Subhasish Roy.
9'
Free kick for Odisha FC
Martin Guedes on the ball for the free kick. He glides the shot on target but straight to Subhasish Roy. Good attempt but it comes to nothing.
2'
A GOAL in two minutes
Martin Chaves is released on the left flank. He dribbles forward on the left side of the box and centres the ball to Panagiotis Triadis, who plays the ball to his right to Redeem Tlang. Tlang takes a touch and slots the ball with his right foot, into the back of the net. It's at the far post and across the diving Arshdeep Singh. A confident finish.
2'
Goal
Goal - NorthEast United FC : REDEEM
1'
Kick off
Odisha FC get us underway. They have a possession scrap in the middle and they lose it eventually.
Toss
The referee flips the coin, Odisha FC win it and Marcos Tebar chooses to kick off.
National Anthem
It's time for the players to stand in attention for the Indian National Anthem. The playing XI from both the camps will line up either side of the referees.
Odisha FC - Playing XI
Arshdeep Singh (GK), Rana Gharami, Carlos Delgado, Narayan Das, Shubham Sarangi, Jerry Mawhmingthanga, Vinit Rai, Martin Guedes, Xisco Hernandez, Marcos Tebar (C), Aridane Santana.
NorthEast United FC - Playing XI
Subhasish Roy (GK), Heerings Kai, Reagan Singh, Wayne Vaz, Rakesh Pradhan, Redeem Tlang, Panagiotis Triadis, Milan Singh, Jose Leudo (C), Asamoah Gyan, Martin Chaves.
The eastern sides collide
NorthEast United FC have returned home after eking out a goalless draw in the den of the defending champion, Bengaluru FC. That single point would have given them immense confidence as a team and now they would be eyeing three points in front of their home crowd. The backline showed great character and steel to keep the frontline of Bengaluru at bay and the Highlanders will be hoping for more of the same from them. Martin Chaves, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, Asamoah Gyan showed good skills in the last match and the home team will be expecting goals from them this time around. On the other hand, Odisha FC are coming into this match on the back of a defeat. They had their moments in that match but failed to close it in their favour in spite of Jamshedpur FC reduced to 10 men. A goal in the 85th minute eventually cost them and they opened their campaign with a loss. The visitors would want to tighten their defensive line and expect the likes of Marcos Tebar, Xisco Hernandez, Vinit Rai and Nandhakumar Sekar to offer more creativity in midfield. NorthEast United will be the favourites due to a more balanced squad but one cannot write off Odisha FC so easily. Expect a close game!