NorthEast United start on a high

It was a cagey start to the game but it was NorthEast United FC who soon started to settle in and create chances for themselves. However, they lacked firepower in the final third. The story was no different in the Kerala Blasters camp as they were also content with defending from deep in the first half. 

Neither of the teams managed to really conjure up any big chance but however it was NorthEast United who broke the deadlock in the second half through Yusa. There was brilliant build up to the goal as Nicolas Leandro Velez bombed his way into a good area before sending a low cross towards the far post. Yusa was smart enough to make a marauding run from the deep and ended up with an easy tap-in into the empty net. 

Blasters could have equalised immediately when the NEU custodian Subrata Paul made a howler by getting off his line to catch the ball. The Indian keeper made a huge error as he failed to grasp the ball clean. In the melee, Kervens Belfort had an open goal to aim at but couldn’t keep his shot on target from the edge of the box. 

Needing an equaliser desperately Blasters introduced Michael Chopra, Gurwinder Singh and Duckens Nazon in quick succession. However, the equaliser eluded them till the end.