Shillong, Feb 6: NorthEast United FC will host Mumbai City FC as the Indian Super League makes its debut in Meghalaya with this match taking place at the JN Stadium here tomorrow from 7:30PM.
Tickets are likely to be sold out for this first ISL match in Shillong, though don’t expect the stadium to be full as several rows of seats closest to the pitch will probably be left empty intentionally.
Local fans will be keen to see Meghalaya’s own Redeem Tlang in action for NEUFC – he is one of the few players from the state in the ISL. The possibility of seeing him in action should encourage fans to turn out for the first of three ISL matches at the ground this season.
The Islanders will be targeting a bounce back after a goalless draw in their previous game against East Bengal, whereas the Highlanders are aiming to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games.
In the reverse fixture, the Highlanders prevailed by a dominating 3-0 margin and will have their eyes set on securing their second league double against Mumbai City FC, having previously done so in 2020-21. That was incidentally the last time that NEUFC qualified for the playoffs and they are arguably primed to do so this season around as well.
Currently, NorthEast United have 29 points on the back of seven victories and eight draws after 19 encounters, and are placed fourth in the points table, having drawn four times and won once in their last five games.
Mumbai City are positioned sixth in the rankings, as they have 28 points to their name from 18 games through seven wins and draws each. Their last five games have seen the team win and draw twice. Incidentally, the Islanders’ seven stalemates this season are only surpassed by NorthEast’s eight.
Mumbai City are the fourth-lowest scoring team in the ISL this season, having netted 22 times in 14 games. Nikolaos Karelis’ nine strikes are followed by Lallianzuala Chhangte, who has scored only thrice. The Highlanders have fared admirably well on this front, netting 37 times – the second-most in the league. ISL 2024-25’s leading goal-scorer Alaaeddine Ajaraie (18) has spearheaded their pursuit of glory upfront with aplomb and he had even bagged a brace in the clash between these two teams in Mumbai earlier this season.
(ISL Media file photo of NEUFC’s Nestor Albiach celebrating after scoring)
