Ratings: Joe Zoherliana impresses as NorthEast United beat Bengaluru FC

The victory was a first in 11 matches for the Highlanders.

What a night of football we have had at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda. NorthEast United came back from behind to clinch their only second win against Bengaluru FC.

Cleiton Silva opened the scoring for the former champions in the second half, before Deshorn Brown and Danmawia found the back of the net for the Highlanders. The defeat leaves Bengaluru FC at sixth with 23 points and virtually derails hopes of making the playoffs, while NorthEast United lift themselves from the bottom to 10th place.

Let’s take a look at player ratings from the match.

NorthEast United (By Yash Pratap Singh)

Mirshad Michu – 8.0

The goalkeeper was at the top of his game tonight. He pulled off many breathtaking saves, but 1v1 save against Sunil Chhetri stood out the most. In total, Mirshad made four saves, two clearances and a punch.

Joe Zoherliana – 8.5

Joe won the Man of the Match award for his best performance of the season, that too against his former side. He provided an assist to Deshorn Brown for the equalizer and made two tackles and clearances each at the back.

Patrick Flottmann – 7.0

The Aussie had another busy day at the office. He made seven clearances and one interception in 70 minutes of action.

Zakaria Diallo – 8.0

Diallo was cool and composed on the ball throughout the game and kept a check on everyone in BFC’s frontline. He made five clearances, two blocks and a tackle. Also won majority of his ground and aerial duels.

Provat Lakra – 7.0

Lakra looked solid in the left-back position and was involved in the thick of things till the time he was there of the pitch. He executed three clearances, two tackles and an interception in 70 minutes of play.

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Pragyan Sundar Gogoi – 6.5

He showed signs of improvement on his eighth start of the season. Pragyan completed 13 passes with an accuracy of 81.3%, including one key pass. He also made a tackle and an interception each.

Hernan Santana – 7.0

Santana tried his luck on goal from a long way out multiple times and did manage to bring the keeper into action once. He completed three key passes and also put in a clearance, interception and tackle each.

Mohammed Irshad – 6.5

Irshad took heavy first touches and gave away the ball way too cheaply seven times. He completed one out of his two dribbles and also made two clearances, a block and a tackle each.

VP Suhair – 7.5

The forward tested the keeper once and created multiple goalscoring chances for his side as well. He looked lively on either flank and contributed heavily in defence as well, with four tackles and an interception.

Deshorn Brown – 7.5

The Jamaican scored the all-important equalizer with a brilliant striker’s finish in the top corner. He won five out of his eight ground duels and even missed a big chance.

Imran Khan – 7.0

Imran had a relatively quiet game tonight. But, he was amazing with his passing accuracy of 89.5% throughout the game and also created a couple of chances.

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Substitutes

Justin George – 6.5

He came on to replace Patrick Flottmann in the 70th minute. He made two clearances and won 100% of his ground duels.

Tondonba Singh – 6.5

Tondonba replaced Provat Lakra in the left-back position and gave a good account of himself. In 20 minutes, he made a clearance and a tackle each.

Laldanmawia Ralte – 7.0

He came on and scored the winner for his side against Bengaluru FC. He completed 100% of his passes and also won an aerial duel.

Marcelinho – 7.0

The Brazilian came on and changed things for the Highlanders. He turned on his afterburners and produced the winning goal for his side. Marcelinho also completed six passes with an accuracy of around 86%.

Gani Nigam – N/A

He came on very late and couldn’t make much of an impact.

Bengaluru FC (By Ujyant Ramesh)

Lara Sharma - 6.0 

Started in goal due to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's absence. Made two fine saves off Hernan Santana and VP Suhair's strikes in the 26th and 46th minute respectively. However, the scoreline wasn’t in his favour due to a sloppy overall performance from his side’s defensive line.

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Namgyal Bhutia - 7.0 

Continuing his form from last game's cameo, he was extremely active on the left flank — playing in place of Parag Shrivas, who was shifted to the left.

He made multiple runs upfront towards the corner flag, dribbling his way past NorthEast United players and delivering crosses to Bengaluru FC's attacking trio.

Yaya Banana - 6.0

Made his first start for BFC. Apart from that, he made a crucial block off Suhair's shot from the centre of the box in the 62nd minute. Overall, he had a great performance, until his mistimed header late in the game that lead to the Highlanders' equalizer.

Alan Costa - 7.0

Had a shot on target in the second minute, but it went right into Mirshad Michu's hands. Apart from that, defensively he virtually felt like Bengaluru FC's best gamble, making three clearances, six recoveries and winning seven duels overall.

Parag Shrivas - 5.5 

Played on the left tonight in place of Roshan Singh. Looked a bit uncomfortable due to the sudden switch and was sloppy on this side — giving away balls. Hence, was substituted by Wungngayam Muirang in the 30th minute itself.

Suresh Wangjam - 7.0

Was the Blues’ best man in midfield tonight with his clean distribution, close touches and setting up of fast breaks. Alongside, he was involved in 14 duels, of which he won nine.

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Bruno Ramires - 5.5

Tried his luck with a long ranger in the 71st minute, but was denied by a flying save from Mirshad in goal. Defensively, he had one of his weakest shows tonight, as he lost 71% of his duels and committed three fouls in the process.

Danish Farooq - 6.5

Not his best game tonight, as he was poor with his deliveries — overshooting it for his forwards, while also losing multiple duels and committing numerous fouls throughout. However, he redeemed himself by assisting Cleiton Silva via a cross from the left.

Udanta Singh - 7.0 

Started against NorthEast United, with Yaya being Bengaluru FC's fourth foreigner and Prince Ibara's underwhelming performance last game. The 25-year-old was extremely agile upfront on the right, making multiple runs towards the goal, delivering crosses to Sunil Chhetri and thereby creating the most number of chances in the game. However, he couldn’t get himself on the scoresheet.

Sunil Chhetri - 5.5

Made some runs into the box, largely for heading attempts via crosses from the right from the likes of Udanta Singh and Namgyal Bhutia, but in vain.

Also missed a sitter off Danish's through ball in the 55th minute — credits to a fine Mirshad save. In short, the skipper had an underwhelming performance tonight.

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Cleiton Silva - 7.5

Scored Bengaluru FC's only goal of the night from Danish's cross in the 66th minute. Apart from that, the Brazilian had a chance early on in the 31st minute, via a sublime Namgyal Bhutia ball and was on set-piece duty in Roshan’s absence. However, he couldn’t really get himself onto the scoresheet more than once in this crucial game for the playoffs race.

Substitutes

Wungngayam Muirang - 6.5

Replaced Parag as a left-back early in the 29th minute itself. Was impactful in terms of his number of runs, through balls and overall passing accuracy (73%), justifying his replacement of Parag tonight.

Ajay Chhetri - 6.5

Made his first appearance of the season as he came on in place of Namgyal Bhutia in the 57th minute. In his 33 minutes played, he had a brilliant game with a 100% accuracy in terms of his passing, long balls as well as tackles.

Prince Ibara - N/A

Came on as a late substitution in the 79th minute to replace Danish Farooq. 

Pratik Chaudhari - N/A

Yet another late substitution in the 79th minute in place of Yaya Banana.

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