+

NORTHEAST UNITED SALVAGE PRIDE, BEAT SUDEVA 2-0

NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) blanked Sudeva Delhi 2-0 to end their Durand Cup campaign with a win in their Group D match, played here at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Friday. Captain Dipu Mirdha scored the opener for the hosts while Gani Ahmed Nigam, converted from the spot in stoppage time of the second […]

NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) blanked Sudeva Delhi 2-0 to end their Durand Cup campaign with a win in their Group D match, played here at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Friday.

Captain Dipu Mirdha scored the opener for the hosts while Gani Ahmed Nigam, converted from the spot in stoppage time of the second half to round off a well-earned victory.

With this win, NEUFC finished fourth in the group with three points while Sudeva ended their stint at the bottom of the table with two points.

In the inconsequential match, Sudeva began the first half brightly and showed attacking intent. They maintained possession of the ball and created chances.

Sridarth Nongmeikapam broke through inside the box in the second minute itself, but his effort was feeble and Khoirom Jackson Singh in the NEUFC goal, brought about a comfortable save, his first of what was going to be a few in the half.

Jackson had to be alert again as Ghanian Issac Kwame Essel and Sukhandeep Singh tested him with attempted shots from various angles and distances from that same right-hand side, all in the first quarter of an hour.

NEUFC got one of their own in that time as well, when Dipu Mirdha, the brightest spot by a distance, in the NEUFC attack, took a long ranger which bounced dangerously close to Sachin Jha in the Sudeva goal, but he about managed to salvage the situation.

The Highlanders had another chance to score when Sandeep Thapa was found inside the box in some space. His powerful shot from close from the left-hand side of the Sudeva box forced Sachin into yet another tip-over.

NorthEast coach Subam Rabha changed personnel in the second half that saw his team play much better football. They maintained possession and coordinated well to create pressure on the Sudeva defence.

Substitutes Jithin M.S, Emil Benny, Gani Ahmed Nigam along with captain Dipu Mirdha created more and more chances for the home side.

The first goal came in the 64th minute and it was Dipu Mirdha who was in the thick of the action. Jithin had made a beautiful run from the left flank, dodging two defenders in the process of penetrating into the box. He then delivered a cut-back pass inside the box.

Tags: