Shillong, Mar 30: NorthEast United FC will play Jamshedpur FC at the JN Stadium here in the second one-legged knockout game of the Indian Super League 2024-25 playoffs today. Kick-off will be at 7:30PM.
The Highlanders finished fourth in the league standings with 38 points from 24 games, securing 10 victories and eight draws. Jamshedpur FC ended fifth, earning as many points from the same number of encounters, as both sides will target advancing into the semifinals now.
NorthEast United enter this fixture on a four-game unbeaten run against Jamshedpur (W3 D1), their joint longest such streak against the Red Miners. This will also be the first-ever playoffs meeting between these two sides in ISL history.
Alaaeddine Ajaraie (pictured), NorthEast’s Moroccan attacker, has netted four goals in just two ISL games against Jamshedpur. Another brace will make him just the third player in league history to notch two goals in a match thrice against the same opponent after Bartholomew Ogbeche vs Odisha FC and Roy Krishna vs Jamshedpur FC.
Jamshedpur have endured recent defensive struggles, leaking three or more goals in each of their previous two league games. NEUFC, contrastingly, have recorded consecutive clean sheets in the ISL and could register their longest-ever shutout streak if they deny Jamshedpur a goal in today’s match. However, history suggests the Highlanders will be in for a challenge themselves in the playoffs, having conceded in all four of their previous games at this stage of the competition.
Jamshedpur have given away 35 goals in open play this season, the second-most by any side in a single ISL campaign. Encountering the second-highest scorers (NEUFC – 46 goals) in the league could prove out to be a tall task for the visitors in these circumstances.
NorthEast United and Jamshedpur have faced each other 16 times in ISL history. The Highlanders have won four encounters, while the Red Miners have emerged victorious on six occasions. Six matches have ended in draws.
Jamshedpur coach Khalid Jamil, who has been to Shillong several times during stints at I-League clubs in seasons gone by, expressed his pleasure at playing the ISL playoffs in the Meghalaya capital. “We are very happy to be in Shillong. There is a lot of love for football here. The stadium is looking fantastic, the crowd support is amazing and we are looking forward to securing a positive result,” he said.
Meanwhile, NEUFC coach Juan Pedro Benali outlined his side’s objectives entering into the knockout. “We need to be ready, not make any excuses and score whenever chances come our way. We need to convert our opportunities and always be focused, and stop Jamshedpur FC’s special style of play,” he said.
(ISL Media photo)
