Shillong, March 8: NorthEast United FC defeated East Bengal FC 4-0 at the JN Stadium in Shillong here today in the Indian Super League 2024-25. Nestor Albiach (59’), Alaaeddine Ajaraie (66’ 79’) and Mohammed Bemammer (86’) were the scorers.
The Highlanders thus bagged their 10th win of the league season, wrapping up their 24 games and earning 38 points before embarking on their playoffs journey. This was the eighth match where NorthEast United scored three or more goals this season and they also got their first-ever ISL win in Shillong.
East Bengal had limited chances coming their way in the first half, but Cleiton Silva did give NEUFC a scare through a probing free-kick in the 22nd minute. With the team earning a chance at a promising spot on the left flank, Silva swerved in a telling delivery that resulted in the ball landing over the crossbar.
NorthEast United retaliated by moving gradually up the left wing through Alaaeddine, who lobbed in a cross for Nestor in the 32nd minute. Nestor made a robust effort at hitting the target with an aerial effort, but the shot was kept off limits by EB goalkeeper Debjit Majumder.
Alaaeddine back-heeled a pass for the onrushing Tondonba Singh on the left flank, followed by the latter drilling in a cross for Nestor at the centre of the 18-yard box. Nestor met the lateral ball with thorough finesse and slotted it into the bottom right corner with his left foot to break the deadlock in the 59th minute.
The Highlanders rode on this brief wave in their favour as Nestor played a key role in shaping up a dynamic offensive sequence from a corner kick. Guillermo Fernandez curled in a right-footed inward curling cross for Macarton Nickson that was hammered on target. Debjit made a quick first save, before Alaaeddine lapped upon the rebound and nestled it into the bottom left corner amid a crowded box to double the lead in the 66th minute.
Alaaeddine took over a dazzling role thereafter with the Red & Golds conceding him plenty of space to work his footwork around in the defensive third. The free-flowing forward looked to breach into the opposition’s box from the left side and sprinted near the six-yard box. Tanmay Das fouled Alaaeddine and the striker stepped up to take over the spot kick duties, using his right foot to dispatch the ball into the bottom right corner in the 79th minute. Das was sent off after another foul in the 84th minute, handing the Highlanders a numerical advantage in the final phase of the encounter.
The Highlanders did not relent on offensive pressure and kept pushing forward; thereby earning set-piece chances including corner kicks to further peg East Bengal back in the game. One such corner kick in the 86th minute resulted in NEUFC grappling to discover another goal, before Mohammed pounced upon a loose ball and settled it into the bottom right corner to find his team’s fourth goal of the night, propelling them to finish their league stage on a positive note.
(ISL Media photo. NEUFC’s Alaaeddine Ajarie celebrating with team mates Parthib Gogoi, Guillermo Fernandez, Tondonba Singh, Nestor Albiach and Soraisham Dinesh Singh after scoring)